I.
noun
1 spoiled state
ADJECTIVE
▪ complete , utter
VERB + RUIN
▪ fall into , go to
▪
The house gradually fell into ~.
PHRASES
▪ be the ~ of sb/sth
▪
Drinking has been the ~ of her.
▪ go to rack and ~ ( esp. BrE )
▪
They've let the house go to rack and ~.
2 end of success, hopes, etc.
ADJECTIVE
▪ economic , financial
VERB + RUIN
▪ face
▪
The company faces ~ over the new road plans.
▪ bring , lead to , mean , spell
▪
The cost would have meant financial ~ for us.
▪ save from
PHRASES
▪ on the brink of ~ , on the verge of ~
▪ the road to ~
▪
He's on the road to political ~.
3 damaged building, town, etc.
ADJECTIVE
▪ ancient , old
▪ charred , smoking , smouldering/smoldering
▪
the charred ~s of their home
▪ crumbling
▪ castle , temple , etc.
VERB + RUIN
▪ be in ~s , lie in ~s
▪
The church now lies in ~s.
▪ leave sth in ~s
▪
The earthquake left the town in ~s.
PREPOSITION
▪ ~s of
▪
the ancient ~s of Jericho
II.
verb
ADVERB
▪ completely , totally
▪
The experience has completely ~ed her life.
▪ nearly
▪ effectively
▪ financially
▪
The long legal battle ~ed him financially.
VERB + RUIN
▪ threaten to
▪
A knee injury threatened to ~ her Olympic hopes.
▪ be going to
▪
All this mud is going to ~ my shoes.
Ruin is used with these nouns as the object: ↑ appetite , ↑ atmosphere , ↑ career , ↑ chance , ↑ dress , ↑ economy , ↑ ending , ↑ evening , ↑ friendship , ↑ fun , ↑ health , ↑ image , ↑ life , ↑ mood , ↑ party , ↑ plan , ↑ prospect , ↑ relationship , ↑ reputation , ↑ surprise , ↑ vacation