turned to cinders

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "turned to cinders" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has been completely destroyed by fire or reduced to ashes. Example: "After the wildfire swept through the forest, the once vibrant trees were turned to cinders."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

And lo-and-behold, with a puff of smoke, the tape turned to cinders.

The Economist

All will be dedicated to the town's most famous resident, HG Wells, who wrote his great science fiction novel The War of the Worlds while living in Woking and who, in its pages, describes in unsparing detail how the town is turned to cinders by Martians and their terrible heat rays.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Here, in Grabove, close to the Russian border and with a large part of the hillside turned to cinder, at least one of the jet's engines hit the ground.

Independent

Our family will cry and wring our hands and wonder how we'll cross the suspension bridge to the cabin when it's turned to cinder.

Vice

Sophisticated phrases like "an exponential explosion of outrage" or "Your spirit is turned to cinder" may be quickly countered by Elektra chatting in vernacular about a "tit-for-tat murder," or Tutor observing, "Orestes is dead; that's the long and short of it".

Huffington Post

Oakland was Cinderella turned royalty turned back to cinders.

The New York Times - Sports

During the ride, which gave a view on both sides of cinder-block apartment buildings topped with clusters of satellite dishes, the conversation turned to "Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs," an exhibition of artifacts from the Cairo Museum, which, since 2005, has visited seven cities around the world, in an echo of a similar show in the nineteen-seventies.

The New Yorker

"The sister faces the brother....it is an opera without supertitles...Miss Maharaj command[s] her brother, what started between our parents stops now...his body turns to fire...his words hang in the air as the firebird's breath scorches Miss Maharaj, burns her to a cinder, and then turns upon the dotard's shrieking bride.

The New Yorker

The main tourist and religious sites in Urfa — an ancient castle, numerous mosques, a cave where Abraham may have been born and suckled by a deer for ten years, and a lake of sacred carp believed to mark the spot where Nimrod tried to burn Abraham alive (God turned the cinders into fish) are all in or around a shady green park, with fountains and rosebushes.

The New Yorker

The main tourist and religious sites in Urfa an ancient castle, numerous mosques, a cave where Abraham may have been born and suckled by a deer for ten years, and a lake of sacred carp believed to mark the spot where Nimrod tried to burn Abraham alive (God turned the cinders into fish) are all in or around a shady green park, with fountains and rosebushes.

The New Yorker

There are plenty of other ways of eliminating household smoke which don't involve turning the world's forests to cinders.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "turned to cinders" when you want to evoke a vivid image of something being completely destroyed by fire or intense heat. It's particularly effective in dramatic or metaphorical contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "turned to cinders" in everyday situations where the level of destruction is not significant. The phrase is dramatic and can sound exaggerated if applied inappropriately.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "turned to cinders" functions as a descriptive idiom, used to vividly illustrate complete destruction, often by fire. It paints a picture of utter devastation, conveying a sense of finality. Ludwig AI confirms this usage is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "turned to cinders" is an idiomatic phrase used to describe something completely destroyed, typically by fire. Ludwig AI confirms that is correct. It's grammatically sound and most frequently found in news and media contexts. While vividly descriptive, it should be used judiciously to avoid exaggeration in mundane situations. Semantically related alternatives include "reduced to ashes" and "burned to the ground". The phrase effectively conveys a sense of utter devastation and finality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Reduced to ashes

Focuses on the end result of burning, emphasizing complete destruction.

Burned to the ground

Specifically implies destruction by fire, highlighting the totality of the damage.

Reduced to rubble

Implies destruction to the point of being ruins, not necessarily by fire.

Consumed by flames

Emphasizes the active process of being destroyed by fire.

Incinerated

A more formal term for burning something completely.

Charred beyond recognition

Highlights the state of being burned severely, making identification impossible.

Obliterated

Suggests complete and utter destruction, though not necessarily by fire.

Turned to dust

Similar to ashes, implies a complete disintegration of form.

Vaporized

Suggests transformation into a gaseous state, often by extreme heat.

Annihilated

Implies complete destruction and removal of existence.

FAQs

How can I use "turned to cinders" in a sentence?

You can use "turned to cinders" to vividly describe something completely destroyed by fire, such as "After the dragon's attack, the village was "reduced to ashes"/ "burned to the ground"/ turned to cinders".

What are some alternatives to "turned to cinders"?

Alternatives include "reduced to ashes", "burned to the ground", or "obliterated", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "turned to cinders" an idiom?

Yes, "turned to cinders" is an idiom that uses figurative language to describe complete destruction by fire, often implying an irreversible change.

What is the difference between "turned to ash" and "turned to cinders"?

"Turned to ash" is a more literal description of something burned, while "turned to cinders" implies a more intense and complete destruction, leaving behind only remnants.