reduce to ashes

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "reduce to ashes" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the act of completely destroying something by burning it. Example: "The fire was so intense that it reduced the entire building to ashes within minutes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

To recover from the embarrassment of the failed missile test, Mr. Kim unleashed a bellicose warning to South Korea in late April, threatening that a "special operations action" team would "reduce to ashes the rat-like" leadership of President Lee Myung-bak.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Note all books reduced to ashes".

The New York Times - Arts

The French team has been reduced to ashes".

The Guardian - Sport

The Temple, Herod's greatest achievement, was reduced to ashes.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Hundred and two villages were reduced to ashes.

The Economist

But all the lies used to justify our incursion into Helmand have been reduced to ashes.

The Guardian - Opinion

The house where she lived with the grandmother who had raised her was reduced to ashes.

The New Yorker

Judt goes on: "Between 1914 and 1945, however, this Europe was reduced to ashes".

The Guardian - Opinion

The bag holding a month's savings in cash was reduced to ashes.

The Economist

That's the equivalent of a large British secondary school reduced to ashes every six months.

Independent

Countless ballots have now been reduced to ashes; many others have been tampered with.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "reduce to ashes" when you want to emphasize the finality and completeness of destruction, especially by fire, in a vivid and impactful way.

Common error

While "reduce to ashes" is acceptable in many contexts, avoid using it in overly formal or technical writing where a more neutral term like "incinerate" or "completely destroy" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "reduce to ashes" is as a verb phrase functioning as a predicate, describing a state of complete destruction, often associated with fire. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Science

4%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "reduce to ashes" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that vividly describes complete destruction, often by fire. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage. While versatile, it's most appropriate in neutral contexts. It is less appropriate in very formal contexts, where more neutral synonyms should be preferred. The phrase is prevalent in News & Media sources and serves to emphatically communicate total annihilation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

incinerate completely

Focuses specifically on destruction by fire, emphasizing the completeness of the burning process.

completely destroy

Broader term for total destruction, not necessarily involving fire.

burn to the ground

A more literal alternative, specifying destruction by fire.

turn to dust

Suggests a more gradual or natural process of disintegration, though can imply total destruction.

obliterate

Emphasizes the complete removal or wiping out of something.

raze to the ground

Specifically refers to the complete destruction of buildings or structures.

annihilate

Implies a violent and total destruction.

demolish utterly

Highlights the thoroughness of the demolition process.

vaporize

Suggests complete transformation into a gaseous state, implying total destruction.

lay waste

Describes widespread destruction and devastation, often of a larger area.

FAQs

How can I use "reduce to ashes" in a sentence?

You can use "reduce to ashes" to describe the complete destruction of something, typically by fire. For instance, "The wildfire reduced the forest to ashes".

What are some alternatives to "reduce to ashes"?

Alternatives include "incinerate completely", "completely destroy", or "turn to dust", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "reduced to ashes" or "burned to the ground"?

"Reduced to ashes" and "burned to the ground" are similar, but "reduced to ashes" emphasizes the final state of complete destruction, while "burned to the ground" focuses on the action of burning. The choice depends on which aspect you want to emphasize.

Can "reduce to ashes" be used metaphorically?

Yes, "reduce to ashes" can be used metaphorically to describe the complete destruction of something non-physical, such as a plan or a reputation. For example, "The scandal reduced his career to ashes".