raze to the ground
Meaning: To destroy a building or town completely.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “The old cinema was razed to the ground to make room for apartments.”
Category: Daily Life
Origin: "Raze" comes through French from Latin "radere," to scrape. The phrase is found in English from the 16th century.
Equivalents in other languages
- Swedish: jämna med marken — literally: to level with the ground
More idioms — Daily Life
- dig one's own grave — To cause one's own downfall.
- come in handy — To be useful when needed.
- put someone in their place — To remind someone firmly that they are not as important as they think.
- play for high stakes — To take part in something where a great deal can be won or lost.
- take liberties — To behave too freely or presumptuously.
- give someone what for — To scold or punish someone severely.
More English idioms
- get to grips with something — To start dealing seriously with a problem.
- the law of the jungle — A situation where the strongest or most ruthless win.
- get one's hands on something — To obtain something, often with difficulty.
- wouldn't hurt a fly — Is very gentle and harmless.
- in borrowed plumes — Pretending to qualities or achievements that belong to someone else.
- like two peas in a pod — Very similar in looks or character.
From our compliments & insults
- Tête de mule — An impossibly stubborn person who refuses to change their mind no matter what.
- C'est une vraie chèvre — They're hopelessly stubborn and infuriating — a goat that refuses to be moved.
- Casse-pieds — A massive bore or pain in the neck — someone who wears you down with their irritating way…