scorched earth
Refers to land that has been burned and devastated, often in a military context or metaphorically for complete destruction.
The town was reduced to scorched earth by the war.
焦土作戦は敵の資源を奪うために行われた。
The scorched-earth tactic was carried out to deprive the enemy of resources.
scorched-earth strategy; scorched-earth tactics
Compound of 焦 (shō, 'scorch, burn') and 土 (do, 'earth, soil'). The reading is on'yomi.