English

Alternative forms

• wracke and ruine (obsolete)

Noun

wrack and ruin ‎(uncountable)

1. (idiomatic) Complete destruction.
   • 1577, Henry Bull, Commentarie upon the fiftene psalmes (by Martin Luther, translation):

     Whiles all things seeme to fall to wracke and ruine.^[1]

Derived terms

• rack and ruin

References

1. 1 2 Gary Martin, “Rack and ruin”, The Phrase Finder
2. ↑ 1548, Ephraim Udall, sermon: “The flocke goeth to wrecke and vtterly perisheth.”