go to rack and ruin
Meaning: To fall into a state of decay through neglect.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “The old manor has gone to rack and ruin.”
Category: Daily Life
Origin: "Rack" is a variant of "wrack," meaning destruction. The alliterative pair is found from the 16th century.
Equivalents in other languages
- French: Tomber en quenouille — literally: To fall to the distaff
More idioms — Daily Life
- an old wives' tale — A traditional belief, especially about health, that is not true.
- a pen-pusher — A clerk or bureaucrat doing dull paperwork.
- a word to the wise — A hint or warning that a sensible person will heed.
- a shot across the bow — A warning of more serious action to come.
- a witch hunt — A campaign to find and punish people, driven by fear or suspicion rather than evidence.
- let's hit the road — Let's leave; let's get going.
More English idioms
- on one's toes — Alert and ready to react.
- left high and dry — Stranded or abandoned without help.
- blood will tell — Family background and inherited character eventually show.
- at a snail's pace — Very slowly.
- no picnic — Not easy or pleasant.
- the lean years — A period of hardship and scarcity.
From our proverbs
- The thorn comes forth with his point forwards. — Wickedness announces itself boldly through its inherent nature rather than concealing har…
- He that handles thorns shall prick his fingers. — Careless engagement with dangerous things inevitably causes self-inflicted harm.
- There are more threatened than struck. — More people fear danger than actually experience it; anxiety often exceeds real harm.