Idiom
lay something to waste and lay waste to something
Theme: RUIN
to destroy something (literally or figuratively).The invaders laid the village to waste.The kids came in and laid waste to my clean house.
Idiom
lay waste to somethinglay waste (to something)
to destroy something.Last night, rabbits laid waste to the lettuce I was going to pick today.The army laid waste to the countryside as it moved south.