Translation guide
Expresses the idea of something being completely destroyed by fire, turning into ashes. Covers literal burning to figurative ruin.
Something is completely consumed by fire, leaving only ashes.
Neutral and common expression for 'turn to ashes' or 'be reduced to ashes'. Used for objects, buildings, etc.
The house was reduced to ashes in the fire.
Plans, hopes, or abstract things are utterly destroyed, as if burned to ashes.
Also used figuratively for hopes, dreams, or plans being completely ruined.
All the documents were reduced to ashes.
Specifically means 'burn down' or 'be destroyed by fire', often for buildings. Implies collapse and complete destruction.
The old temple burned down (was reduced to ashes).
Means 'burn out' or 'burn completely'. Can be used for fires that consume everything, leaving nothing but ashes.
The campfire burned out and only ashes remained.
Literary/formal expression meaning 'be reduced to ashes'. Often used in historical or dramatic contexts.
The castle was reduced to ashes by the war.
His dreams were reduced to ashes.
All the plans were reduced to ashes.
Idiom meaning 'come to nothing' or 'end in failure'. Literally 'become bubbles on water', but conveys a similar sense of vanishing without trace.
All my efforts were reduced to nothing (like ashes).
Means 'disappear without a trace'. Can be used when something is completely destroyed or vanishes, similar to being reduced to ashes.
The evidence vanished without a trace (as if reduced to ashes).