to ruin sth

  • 1ruin — {{Roman}}I.{{/Roman}} noun 1 spoiled state ADJECTIVE ▪ complete, utter VERB + RUIN ▪ fall into, go to ▪ The house gradually fell into ruin …

    Collocations dictionary

  • 2ruin — ru|in1 S3 [ˈru:ın] v [T] 1.) to spoil or destroy something completely ▪ This illness has ruined my life. ▪ His career would be ruined. ▪ All this mud s going to ruin my shoes. see usage note ↑destroy 2.) to make someone lose all their money ▪ …

    Dictionary of contemporary English

  • 3spoil past tense and past participle spoiled or spoilt, — BrE verb 1 RUIN STH (T) to have a bad effect on something so that it is no longer attractive, enjoyable, useful etc: The countryside has been spoiled by the new freeway. | Don t spoil your sister s birthday by crying at her party. | spoil… …

    Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • 4cock something up — ˌcock sthˈup derived (BrE, slang) to ruin sth by doing it badly, or by making a careless or stupid mistake Syn: ↑bungle • I really cocked that exam up! …

    Useful english dictionary

  • 5get — /get/ verb past tense got, past participle got especially BrE gotten especially AmE present participle getting RECEIVE/OBTAIN 1 RECEIVE (transitive not in passive) to be given or receive something: Sharon always seems to get loads of mail. | Why… …

    Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • 6rack — rack1 [ræk] n [Sense: 1 3,5 7; Date: 1300 1400; : Middle Dutch; Origin: rec frame ] [Sense: 4; Origin: Old English wrAc unhappiness, punishment ] 1.) a frame or shelf that has bars or hooks on which you can put things ▪ a wine rack ▪ …

    Dictionary of contemporary English

  • 7sign — {{Roman}}I.{{/Roman}} noun 1 sth that shows that sth exists/may happen ADJECTIVE ▪ classic, clear, definite, distinct, obvious, real, sure, telltale, unmistakable …

    Collocations dictionary

  • 8count — count1 W3S1 [kaunt] v ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(find the total)¦ 2¦(say numbers)¦ 3¦(be allowed)¦ 4¦(include)¦ 5¦(consider something)¦ 6¦(important)¦ 7 I/you can count somebody/something on (the fingers of) one hand 8 don t count your chickens (before they re… …

    Dictionary of contemporary English

  • 9face — face1 W1S1 [feıs] n ↑ear, ↑nose, ↑tooth, ↑eye ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(front of your head)¦ 2¦(expression)¦ 3 keep a straight face 4 pale faced/round faced etc 5 grim faced/serious faced etc …

    Dictionary of contemporary English

  • 10tear — 1 noun 1 (C) a drop of salty liquid that flows from your eye when you are crying: Tears just rolled down his face. | tear stained cheeks | (be) in tears (=crying): My wife actually broke down in tears telling me. | burst into tears (=suddenly… …

    Longman dictionary of contemporary English