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B1 verb #34 mais comum 13 min de leitura

ruin

Top 34

At the A1 level, 'ruin' is a word you use when something is broken or becomes very bad. Imagine you have a beautiful drawing and you spill water on it. Now the drawing is not good anymore. You can say, 'I ruined my drawing.' It means the drawing is finished or destroyed. You might also use it for food. If you put too much salt in your soup and you cannot eat it, you ruined the soup. It is a simple way to say that something that was good is now bad. You use it for things you can touch, like toys, clothes, or food. It is a very useful word for explaining why you are sad about an object. Don't worry about big meanings yet; just think of it as 'making something very bad.'

For A2 learners, 'ruin' starts to be used for more than just physical objects. You can use it for plans or events. For example, if you want to go to the park but it starts to rain, you can say, 'The rain ruined our day.' This means the rain made the day bad and you couldn't do what you wanted. You also learn that 'ruin' is a regular verb: ruin, ruined, ruining. You might hear it in sentences like 'Don't ruin the surprise!' This is a very common phrase when someone is about to tell a secret. It means if you tell the secret, the fun will be gone. At this level, you should practice using 'ruin' with simple objects and simple events like parties, games, or dinners.

At the B1 level, you should understand that 'ruin' implies a more serious or permanent kind of damage. It's not just that something is a little bit bad; it's often beyond repair. You can use it to talk about reputations or careers. For example, 'A scandal can ruin a politician.' This means the politician's career is over because people don't trust them anymore. You also start to see 'ruin' in the passive voice: 'The house was ruined by the fire.' This focuses on the result of the damage. You should also be able to distinguish 'ruin' from 'spoil.' While 'spoil' might mean making something less perfect, 'ruin' usually means making it completely unusable or unsuccessful. You can also use it for financial situations, like 'ruining' a business by spending too much money.

B2 learners should be comfortable using 'ruin' in a variety of abstract and metaphorical contexts. You might discuss how certain social trends 'ruin' the quality of life or how a specific policy 'ruined' the economy. At this level, you should also be aware of the noun form 'ruins' and how it relates to the verb. You can use adverbs to modify the verb, such as 'completely ruin,' 'utterly ruin,' or 'financially ruin.' You should also understand the nuance of 'ruin' in literature or news reports, where it might describe the downfall of a character or a nation. You can use it to express strong opinions, like 'The new development will ruin the character of the neighborhood.' This shows you can use the word to talk about complex social and aesthetic values.

At the C1 level, you use 'ruin' with precision and stylistic flair. You understand its place among more sophisticated synonyms like 'devastate,' 'vitiate,' or 'mar.' You might use 'ruin' to describe subtle psychological states or complex systemic failures. For example, 'The constant criticism ruined her self-esteem.' You are also familiar with idiomatic expressions and can use them naturally, such as 'to go to rack and ruin.' You can analyze how the word is used in different registers, from the hyperbolic language of a teenager to the grave warnings of an economist. Your usage of 'ruin' should reflect an understanding of its emotional weight and its ability to convey a sense of tragic loss or irreversible change. You can also use it in the reflexive form ('he ruined himself') to discuss self-destructive behavior.

For C2 speakers, 'ruin' is a tool for nuanced expression in high-level discourse. You can use it to discuss historical trajectories, philosophical concepts of decay, or intricate legal arguments. You might explore the irony of 'ruining' something to save it, or use the word in complex conditional sentences: 'Had the treaty not been signed, the resulting conflict would have ruined the continent for generations.' You understand the etymological roots of the word and how they inform its modern usage. You can use 'ruin' to create specific tones in your writing, whether it's the stark realism of a news report or the evocative imagery of a poem. At this level, you don't just use the word; you master its ability to evoke the entire process of decline and fall, from the first crack to the final collapse.

Pratique Exemplos Notas e dicas

ruin em 30 segundos

To ruin is to damage something so severely that it loses its value, function, or beauty, often permanently.
It can be used for physical objects (like clothes), abstract plans (like a party), or social status (like a reputation).
Commonly used in both casual and formal contexts to describe failure, destruction, or the loss of a positive experience.
Synonyms include destroy, spoil, and wreck, but 'ruin' often implies a tragic or irreversible loss of quality.

The verb ruin is a powerful and versatile word in the English language, primarily used to describe the act of damaging something so severely that it loses its value, usefulness, or original state. At its core, to ruin something is to take something that was once whole, functional, or beautiful and reduce it to a state of disrepair or failure. This can apply to physical objects, such as a piece of clothing or a building, but it is equally common in abstract contexts, such as ruining a surprise, a reputation, or a financial situation. When you ruin something, the implication is often that the damage is permanent or at least very difficult to reverse. It is a step beyond simply 'spoiling' or 'damaging'; it suggests a level of destruction that changes the nature of the object or situation entirely.

Physical Destruction: This refers to the literal breaking or spoiling of a tangible object. For example, spilling red wine on a white carpet will likely ruin it because the stain is nearly impossible to remove completely.

The heavy rain and flooding threatened to ruin the farmer's entire harvest for the year.

In social and emotional contexts, 'ruin' is frequently used to describe the negative impact of an action on an event or a relationship. If someone reveals the ending of a movie before you have seen it, they have ruined the experience for you. Similarly, a single lie can ruin the trust between two close friends. The word carries a heavy emotional weight because it focuses on the loss of what could have been. In business, 'ruin' often refers to financial collapse. A company that makes poor investments might be ruined, meaning it goes bankrupt and can no longer operate. This multifaceted nature makes 'ruin' an essential word for learners to master, as it appears in everything from casual conversations about dinner to serious discussions about global economics.

Abstract Failure: This involves the destruction of non-physical things like plans, moods, or reputations. If a secret is told too early, it ruins the surprise party.

One careless comment in the interview was enough to ruin his chances of getting the job.

Furthermore, 'ruin' is often used in the passive voice ('to be ruined') to describe the state of something after a disaster. 'The city was ruined by the earthquake' implies total devastation. It is also used in common idioms like 'ruin someone's day,' which is a hyperbolic way of saying that a small negative event made someone feel very unhappy. Despite its intensity, 'ruin' is a very common word in daily life, used by children and adults alike to express frustration or regret over things that have gone wrong. Understanding the nuances between physical ruin and metaphorical ruin is key to using the word naturally in English.

Don't let a little bit of rain ruin your vacation; there are plenty of indoor activities to enjoy.

Financial Ruin: The state of losing all your money or being unable to pay your debts. It is a very serious condition often discussed in legal and economic contexts.

The gambling addiction eventually led to his complete financial ruin.

If you keep adding too much salt, you will ruin the soup.

Using the word ruin correctly requires understanding its grammatical patterns and the typical objects it takes. As a transitive verb, it almost always requires a direct object—the thing that is being destroyed or spoiled. You can ruin a physical object, an event, a feeling, or a person's status. The most common structure is [Subject] + ruin + [Object]. For example, 'The cat ruined the sofa.' Here, the cat is the cause, and the sofa is the victim of the damage. In more complex sentences, you might see 'ruin' followed by a prepositional phrase to explain the extent or the reason for the damage.

Transitive Usage: The most standard way to use the word. It requires an object that receives the action of being damaged. 'The storm ruined the garden.'

I accidentally washed my red shirt with the whites and ruined all of them.

Another common pattern is using 'ruin' to describe the effect on a person's life or career. Phrases like 'ruin a reputation' or 'ruin a career' are very common in news and formal writing. In these cases, the 'ruining' isn't physical but social. It means that the person can no longer be respected or work in their field. You can also use 'ruin' in the passive voice to focus on the result rather than the cause: 'My day was ruined.' This is a very common way to express disappointment. It shifts the focus to the speaker's feelings about the situation.

Passive Voice: Used to emphasize the state of the object. 'The painting was ruined by the humidity in the room.'

The scandal threatened to ruin the politician's chances of re-election.

When talking about plans or events, 'ruin' is often used with 'for' to specify who is affected. For example, 'The rain ruined the picnic for everyone.' This indicates that while the picnic itself was the thing spoiled, the people (everyone) were the ones who suffered the consequence. You can also use 'ruin' in a reflexive sense, though it is less common: 'He ruined himself with bad investments.' This means he caused his own downfall. In modern slang, you might hear people say 'You ruined it!' when someone makes an awkward comment that breaks a nice moment.

Stop shouting; you are going to ruin the surprise for your sister!

Hyperbolic Usage: In casual speech, 'ruin' is often used to exaggerate a small problem. 'You ruined my life!' might be said by a teenager whose parents won't let them go to a party.

The cold weather ruined our plans for a day at the beach.

A single mistake in the code can ruin the entire software program.

The word ruin is ubiquitous in English-speaking environments, appearing in various registers from the most formal to the highly informal. In everyday conversation, you will hear it most often when people are complaining about something that didn't go as planned. For instance, if a friend arrives late to a movie and misses the beginning, they might say, 'I've ruined the movie for myself.' It's a way of expressing a loss of quality or enjoyment. You'll also hear it frequently in the kitchen; a cook might worry that they have 'ruined the dinner' by overcooking the meat. In these contexts, 'ruin' is the go-to word for any situation where a positive outcome has been lost.

News and Media: Journalists use 'ruin' to describe the impact of scandals, economic downturns, or natural disasters. 'The scandal ruined his political career' is a classic headline.

The documentary explains how the oil spill ruined the local ecosystem for decades.

In the world of entertainment and social media, 'ruin' has a specific niche. You will often hear the phrase 'spoiler alert' followed by a warning not to 'ruin the ending' of a popular TV show or book. Fans might say, 'The final season ruined the whole series for me,' indicating that a bad conclusion made them dislike the earlier, better parts of the show. On platforms like YouTube or TikTok, creators might use 'ruin' in titles like 'I ruined my kitchen trying this hack,' which uses the word to create drama and attract viewers. It’s a word that signals high stakes and significant consequences, which makes it very effective for storytelling.

Legal and Financial Contexts: Lawyers might talk about 'ruinous' costs or how a lawsuit could 'ruin' a defendant financially. It implies a total loss of assets.

The company faced a lawsuit that could potentially ruin its reputation in the global market.

In literature and historical discussions, 'ruin' takes on a more poetic or grand tone. Historians might discuss how a specific war 'ruined' a dynasty or how neglect 'ruined' a great monument. Here, the word connects the verb action to the noun 'ruins' (the physical remains). In classic novels, characters often fear 'social ruin,' which meant being cast out of polite society due to a scandal. This historical usage helps us understand why the word still feels so serious today; it carries the weight of centuries of stories about people losing everything they valued.

Many people believe that the internet is ruining our ability to concentrate on long books.

Parental Warnings: Parents often use the word to warn children about consequences. 'Don't eat that candy now; you'll ruin your appetite for dinner!'

I hope this small disagreement doesn't ruin our friendship.

The construction of the new highway will ruin the peaceful atmosphere of the village.

While ruin is a common word, learners often make specific mistakes regarding its intensity and its distinction from similar verbs like 'spoil,' 'damage,' or 'destroy.' One of the most frequent errors is using 'ruin' for very minor issues where 'spoil' or 'damage' would be more appropriate. For example, if you scratch a table slightly, you haven't 'ruined' it; you've 'damaged' it. To 'ruin' the table would mean to break it so badly it can't be used. Using 'ruin' too often for small things can make your speech sound overly dramatic, which might be fine in casual conversation but is less effective in professional settings.

Ruin vs. Spoil: 'Spoil' is often used for food that has gone bad or for children who get too much of what they want. While you can 'ruin' a dinner, 'spoiling' it often implies a less permanent or less aggressive form of damage.

Incorrect: I ruined my pencil by dropping it. Correct: I broke the tip of my pencil by dropping it.

Another common mistake involves the confusion between the verb 'ruin' and the noun 'ruins.' Learners sometimes say 'The ruins of the building ruined the view.' While grammatically possible, it sounds repetitive and confusing. Remember that 'ruins' (plural noun) refers to the physical remains of a collapsed structure, while 'ruin' (verb) is the action of causing that collapse. Additionally, some learners confuse 'ruin' with 'rain' because of the similar spelling and vowel sounds. Be careful with pronunciation: 'ruin' has two syllables (ROO-in), while 'rain' has only one (RAYN).

Overusing Hyperbole: Avoid saying 'You ruined everything!' in a professional environment unless a project has truly failed completely. It can sound accusatory and immature.

The news report ruined his reputation (Correct usage for a serious, permanent social loss).

There is also a tendency to use 'ruin' without an object. Because it is a transitive verb, it usually needs to 'ruin' *something*. Saying 'He ruined' is incomplete; you must say 'He ruined the surprise' or 'He ruined the car.' One exception is the idiomatic 'go to ruin,' where 'ruin' acts as a noun meaning a state of decay. For example, 'The old house was allowed to go to ruin.' Finally, watch out for the adjective 'ruined.' While it describes something that has been destroyed, in some contexts, it can mean 'bankrupt.' Make sure the context is clear so your audience knows if you are talking about a broken toy or a penniless businessman.

Don't let one bad grade ruin your confidence in your ability to learn.

Collocation Errors: Learners sometimes use 'ruin' with words like 'mistake.' You don't 'ruin a mistake'; you 'make a mistake' that 'ruins a plan.'

The chef was worried that the lack of fresh herbs would ruin the flavor of the dish.

If you spill bleach on your jeans, it will ruin the color forever.

To expand your vocabulary beyond ruin, it is helpful to look at synonyms that offer different shades of meaning. While 'ruin' is a general term for severe damage, other words can specify the *type* or *intent* of the damage. For instance, 'destroy' is often more violent and physical. You 'destroy' a building with a bulldozer, but you might 'ruin' a building by letting it sit empty for fifty years. 'Spoil' is a gentler alternative, often used for things that are made less pleasant but not necessarily unusable. You 'spoil' a child by giving them too many toys, or you 'spoil' a surprise by telling it too early.

Destroy: To damage something so badly that it no longer exists or cannot be repaired. It is more intense and often more sudden than 'ruin.'
Spoil: To diminish the quality or value of something. Often used for food, plans, or children's character.

The fire didn't just ruin the furniture; it completely destroyed the entire house.

Another useful alternative is 'wreck.' This word is very common in casual speech and often refers to physical accidents, like 'wrecking a car.' It can also be used for abstract things, like 'wrecking a relationship.' 'Devastate' is a much stronger word, used for extreme emotional or physical destruction. If a city is 'devastated' by a hurricane, the damage is catastrophic. If a person is 'devastated' by news, they are deeply upset. 'Mar' is a more formal and literary synonym, usually referring to a small but significant blemish that spoils the perfection of something. For example, 'The landscape was marred by the presence of the factory.'

Wreck: Often used for vehicles or for making a huge mess. 'The kids wrecked the living room in five minutes.'
Devastate: To cause great grief or to lay waste to an area. It carries a much heavier emotional weight than 'ruin.'

The bad weather ruined the wedding, but the couple's positive attitude saved the day.

In financial contexts, you might use 'bankrupt' or 'impoverish' instead of 'ruin.' These words are more precise. In social contexts, 'tarnish' is a great word for reputations. Instead of saying 'He ruined his reputation,' saying 'He tarnished his reputation' suggests that while it is damaged, it might still be salvageable. Finally, 'botch' is used when someone ruins something through incompetence or a clumsy mistake, like 'botching a surgery' or 'botching a job interview.' Choosing the right synonym depends on the intensity of the situation and whether the damage was accidental or intentional.

A small scratch can ruin the value of a rare collectible coin.

Botch: To do something badly or clumsily. 'He botched the repair, and now the sink is leaking even more.'

The scandal didn't just ruin his career; it tarnished the image of the entire organization.

The chef was afraid that the salty butter would ruin the delicate pastry.

How Formal Is It?

Formal

Neutro

Informal

Child friendly

Gíria

Curiosidade

The noun 'ruins' (plural) actually appeared in English before the verb 'ruin' was commonly used to describe abstract destruction.

Guia de pronúncia

UK /ˈruː.ɪn/

US /ˈruː.ɪn/

The stress is on the first syllable: RU-in.

Rima com

Bruin Doing (near rhyme) Viewing (near rhyme) Gluing (near rhyme) Brewing (near rhyme) Suing (near rhyme) Renewing (near rhyme) Pursuing (near rhyme)

Erros comuns

Pronouncing it as one syllable (like 'rain' or 'rune').
Confusing the vowel sound with 'run'.
Over-emphasizing the second syllable.
Mumbling the 'n' at the end.
Mixing it up with the word 'rowing'.

Nível de dificuldade

Leitura 3/5

Easy to recognize in context, though noun/verb distinction is key.

Escrita 4/5

Requires understanding of transitive patterns and collocations.

Expressão oral 3/5

Common in daily speech, but pronunciation needs care.

Audição 3/5

Can be confused with 'rain' if spoken quickly.

O que aprender depois

Pré-requisitos

break bad damage stop plan

Aprenda a seguir

destroy devastate spoil wreck bankrupt

Avançado

vitiate tarnish mar annihilate dilapidated

Gramática essencial

Transitive Verbs

You must ruin *something* (e.g., 'ruin the car').

Passive Voice for Results

The cake *was ruined* by the heat.

Adverb Placement

He *completely* ruined the surprise.

Gerunds after Prepositions

He was afraid of *ruining* the moment.

Regular Verb Conjugation

Yesterday he *ruined* it; today he is *ruining* it.

Exemplos por nível

I ruined my shirt with juice.

I made my shirt bad with juice.

Subject + verb + object.

Don't ruin the toy!

Don't break the toy.

Imperative sentence.

The dog ruined the shoes.

The dog chewed the shoes and made them bad.

Past tense 'ruined'.

Too much salt will ruin the food.

The food will be bad if you add salt.

Future tense with 'will'.

I am ruining my drawing.

I am making my drawing bad right now.

Present continuous.

Did you ruin the cake?

Is the cake bad now?

Question form.

She ruined her dress in the mud.

Her dress is dirty and bad now.

Regular past tense.

He doesn't want to ruin the game.

He wants the game to be good.

Negative with 'doesn't'.

The rain ruined our picnic.

The rain made our outdoor lunch impossible.

Abstract object 'picnic'.

Don't ruin the surprise party!

Keep the secret so the party is fun.

Common phrase.

I ruined my phone by dropping it in water.

My phone doesn't work now.

Using 'by' to show how.

The loud music ruined the movie.

I couldn't enjoy the movie because of the noise.

Cause and effect.

He ruined his chances of winning.

He made a mistake and now he cannot win.

Metaphorical usage.

A bad mood can ruin the whole evening.

If you are sad, the night will not be fun.

Modal verb 'can'.

She ruined the surprise by telling him.

She told the secret.

Gerund 'telling'.

The cold weather ruined the flowers.

The flowers died because it was cold.

Natural cause.

The scandal ruined his reputation.

People no longer respect him.

Formal abstract object.

I'm afraid I've ruined the dinner.

I think the food is not good to eat.

Present perfect 'have ruined'.

The house was ruined by the flood.

The water destroyed the house.

Passive voice.

Don't let one mistake ruin your life.

One small error shouldn't have a huge effect.

Imperative with 'let'.

The company was ruined by poor management.

The business failed because of bad leaders.

Passive voice with 'by'.

He ruined his health by working too hard.

He became sick because of work.

Reflexive-style usage.

The construction will ruin the view.

We won't be able to see the nice landscape.

Future tense.

She was worried about ruining her new shoes.

She didn't want to make her shoes dirty.

Preposition 'about' + gerund.

The drought completely ruined the crops.

No rain meant all the plants died.

Adverb 'completely' for emphasis.

His arrogance ruined his relationship with his colleagues.

He was too proud, so his coworkers disliked him.

Complex abstract object.

The city's economy was ruined after the factory closed.

The town became poor.

Temporal clause 'after...'.

I don't want to ruin the moment, but we need to go.

I hate to break the nice atmosphere.

Infinitive of purpose.

The painting was ruined by years of neglect.

It was not cared for, so it broke.

Passive voice with 'neglect'.

One bad apple can ruin the whole bunch.

One bad person can affect everyone.

Proverbial usage.

The news of the merger ruined his weekend.

He spent his weekend worrying about work.

Abstract cause.

She felt that the new law would ruin the industry.

The law would make the business fail.

Reported thought.

The financial crisis ruined many small businesses.

The economic crash caused total failure.

Historical/Economic context.

Her reputation was ruined by a series of false accusations.

Lies made people think she was bad.

Passive voice with complex agent.

The constant noise from the street ruined the tranquility of the garden.

The peace was lost because of the sound.

Abstract noun 'tranquility'.

He ruined himself through his obsession with gambling.

He caused his own downfall.

Reflexive usage.

The architect argued that the addition would ruin the building's aesthetic.

The new part would make the building ugly.

Academic/Professional context.

The scandal threatened to ruin the integrity of the entire institution.

The whole organization might lose its honor.

Abstract concept 'integrity'.

The lack of investment has ruined the nation's infrastructure.

Roads and bridges are in bad condition.

Present perfect for ongoing state.

She didn't want to ruin her chances by appearing too eager.

She wanted to stay calm to succeed.

Gerund phrase as object.

The hubris of the CEO ultimately ruined the corporation.

Excessive pride caused the company's fall.

Advanced vocabulary 'hubris'.

Centuries of erosion have ruined the ancient inscriptions.

The writing is gone because of time and weather.

Scientific/Historical context.

The conflict threatened to ruin the delicate geopolitical balance.

The war could break the peace between nations.

Sophisticated abstract object.

He was a man ruined by his own ambition.

His desire for power led to his destruction.

Participial phrase as adjective.

The introduction of invasive species has ruined the local biodiversity.

New animals destroyed the natural balance.

Scientific register.

The legal battle ruined him both financially and emotionally.

He lost his money and his happiness.

Parallel adverbs.

To allow this historical site to go to ruin would be a tragedy.

Letting it decay is a bad thing.

Idiomatic 'go to ruin'.

The critic's scathing review ruined the play's chances of a long run.

The bad review meant the play closed early.

Professional/Artistic context.

Colocações comuns

completely ruin

ruin a reputation

ruin the surprise

ruin a career

ruin the mood

financially ruin

ruin an appetite

utterly ruin

ruin a chance

ruin a friendship

Frases Comuns

ruin someone's day

go to ruin

ruin the fun

ruin everything

ruin the surprise

ruin your health

ruin the flavor

ruin a plan

ruin a moment

ruin the view

Frequentemente confundido com

ruin vs rain

Similar sound, but 'rain' is water from the sky.

ruin vs run

Similar spelling, but 'run' is a fast movement.

ruin vs rune

Similar sound, but 'rune' is an ancient letter.

Expressões idiomáticas

"go to rack and ruin"

To gradually get into a very bad state or condition through neglect.

The family business went to rack and ruin after the father died.

Literary/Old-fashioned

"ruin the party"

To be a person who spoils the enjoyment of others.

I don't want to ruin the party, but we need to talk about the budget.

Informal

"ruin someone's reputation"

To destroy the good opinion that people have of someone.

The false news report ruined her reputation.

Neutral

"ruin someone's chances"

To make it impossible for someone to succeed at something.

The injury ruined his chances of making the Olympic team.

Neutral

"ruin the curve"

To perform so well that it makes others look bad (often in school).

He got a 100% on the test and ruined the curve for everyone else.

Informal/Academic

"ruin someone's life"

To cause a permanent and devastating change to someone's existence.

The prison sentence ruined his life.

Strong/Emotional

"ruin the surprise"

To reveal a secret too early.

Don't show her the gift; you'll ruin the surprise.

Neutral

"ruin the mood"

To make a pleasant atmosphere unpleasant.

His constant complaining ruined the mood of the dinner.

Neutral

"ruin your appetite"

To eat something that makes you not want to eat a later meal.

Don't eat that chocolate now; you'll ruin your appetite.

Neutral

"ruin the ending"

To tell someone how a story ends before they have finished it.

Please don't ruin the ending of the book for me!

Neutral

Fácil de confundir

ruin vs destroy

Both mean damage.

'Destroy' is more physical and total; 'ruin' can be abstract or about quality.

The bomb destroyed the bridge; the rain ruined the party.

ruin vs spoil

Both mean make bad.

'Spoil' is often for food or children; 'ruin' is more serious and permanent.

The milk spoiled; the scandal ruined his life.

ruin vs damage

Both mean harm.

'Damage' can be small and fixable; 'ruin' implies it's beyond repair.

I damaged the table, but I can fix it. I ruined the table by burning it.

ruin vs wreck

Both mean break.

'Wreck' is often for vehicles or physical messes; 'ruin' is more general.

He wrecked the car; he ruined his reputation.

ruin vs vitiate

Both mean spoil.

'Vitiate' is very formal/legal; 'ruin' is everyday English.

The error vitiated the contract.

Padrões de frases

I ruined my [object].

I ruined my book.

The [weather/event] ruined our [plan].

The rain ruined our picnic.

Don't ruin the [abstract noun]!

Don't ruin the surprise!

[Subject] was ruined by [cause].

The car was ruined by the crash.

One [thing] can ruin the whole [group].

One bad player can ruin the whole team.

[Subject] ruined [himself/herself] through [action].

He ruined himself through gambling.

The [action] threatened to ruin [abstract concept].

The scandal threatened to ruin the peace.

To allow [object] to go to ruin is [adjective].

To allow the castle to go to ruin is a shame.

Família de palavras

Substantivos

Verbos

Adjetivos

Relacionado

Como usar

frequency

Very high in both spoken and written English.

Erros comuns

I ruined my pencil (when the tip broke). → I broke my pencil.
Ruin is for more serious damage than a broken pencil tip.
The rain ruined. → The rain ruined the day.
Ruin is a transitive verb and needs an object.
He ruined his reputation of a lie. → He ruined his reputation with a lie.
Use 'with' or 'by' to show the cause of the ruin.
The building is in ruin. → The building is in ruins.
When referring to the state of a building, use the plural noun 'ruins'.
Don't rain the surprise. → Don't ruin the surprise.
Confusing 'rain' and 'ruin' due to similar sounds.

Dicas

Use an Object

Always remember that 'ruin' needs an object. You ruin *something*.

Try Synonyms

If the damage is small, use 'spoil' or 'damage' instead of 'ruin'.

Two Syllables

Make sure to say 'ROO-in' clearly to avoid confusion with other words.

Hyperbole

Use 'ruin' for dramatic effect in stories, but be careful in professional writing.

Adverb Pairs

Use 'completely' or 'utterly' with 'ruin' to sound more like a native speaker.

Abstract vs. Physical

Practice using 'ruin' for both physical things (clothes) and abstract things (plans).

Go to Ruin

Learn the phrase 'go to ruin' to describe buildings or businesses that are decaying.

Spoiler Alert

Use 'don't ruin the ending' when talking about movies or books.

Listen for 'Ruins'

If you hear 'ruins' at the end of a sentence, it's likely a noun referring to old buildings.

Passive Voice

Use 'was ruined by' to focus on the victim of the damage.

Memorize

Mnemônico

Think of a 'Roo' (kangaroo) jumping 'In' a house and breaking everything. Roo + In = Ruin.

Associação visual

Imagine a beautiful wedding cake with a giant footprint in the middle of it. The cake is ruined.

Word Web

Destroy Spoil Wreck Damage Fail Collapse Reputation Plans

Desafio

Try to use the word 'ruin' in three different ways today: once for an object, once for a plan, and once for a feeling.

Origem da palavra

From the Latin 'ruina', which means 'a falling down' or 'a collapse'. This comes from the verb 'ruere', meaning 'to fall violently' or 'to rush'.

Significado original: The word originally referred to the physical act of a building falling down or collapsing.

It entered English via Old French 'ruine' in the late 14th century.

Contexto cultural

Be careful when using 'ruin' to describe people's lives or appearances, as it can be very offensive or insensitive.

Commonly used in hyperbole (exaggeration). 'You ruined my life!' is a common dramatic phrase.

The concept of 'The Ruin' in Old English poetry. Financial ruin in Dickensian novels like 'Little Dorrit'. Modern 'spoiler' culture on social media.

Pratique na vida real

Contextos reais

Cooking

ruin the recipe
ruin the taste
ruin the dinner
ruin the sauce

Social Events

ruin the party
ruin the surprise
ruin the mood
ruin the evening

Business

ruin the company
ruin the deal
ruin the reputation
ruin the investment

Weather

ruin the harvest
ruin the holiday
ruin the trip
ruin the game

Personal Life

ruin a friendship
ruin a marriage
ruin a career
ruin your health

Iniciadores de conversa

"Have you ever had a holiday that was ruined by bad weather?"

"What is the best way to tell someone they are ruining a surprise?"

"Do you think social media is ruining the way we communicate?"

"Have you ever accidentally ruined a piece of clothing in the wash?"

"What's a movie that was ruined for you because of a spoiler?"

Temas para diário

Describe a time when a plan was ruined but you ended up having fun anyway.

How do you feel when someone ruins the ending of a book or movie for you?

Write about a historical building that has gone to ruin and what it might have looked like before.

Discuss the impact of a single mistake that could ruin a person's reputation.

Reflect on a time you thought you ruined something, but it turned out to be okay.

Perguntas frequentes

10 perguntas

You can ruin a person's reputation, career, or life, but you don't usually 'ruin' a person physically like an object.

Usually, 'ruin' implies that the damage is very difficult or impossible to fix, though in casual speech, it might be used for temporary problems.

'Ruin' is the verb (to damage), while 'ruins' is the noun (the remains of a destroyed building).

Yes, it usually means you have lost all your money or your reputation is destroyed.

Yes, it is stronger than 'spoil' or 'damage' and should be used when the problem is serious.

It has two syllables: ROO-in. Don't say it like 'rain'.

Yes, if you cook it so badly that nobody can eat it, you have ruined the food.

It means telling someone about a secret event before it happens, so they aren't surprised anymore.

It is a regular verb: ruin, ruined, ruined.

Yes, weather is a very common subject for the verb 'ruin' (e.g., 'The storm ruined the crops').