Lay waste to (dictionary definition)
Verb: lay waste to - cause extensive destruction or ruin utterly; "The enemy lay waste to the countryside after the invasion" - devastate, ravage, scourge, desolate, waste - ruin, destroy - destroy completely; damage irreparably; "You have ruined my car by pouring sugar in the tank!"; "The tears ruined her make-up" - ruin - reduce to ruins; "The country lay ruined after the war"