Wrought havoc

Share on Facebook

galley0

#44159 Wed, 01 Sep 04 10:20 PM

The ravages of time and excessive heat has wrought havoc with the integrity of of these old pictures.

Is the term "wrought havoc" now considered archaic?

galley0

Joined on Sat, Aug 28 2004

New Member (20)

anon1

#44162 Wed, 01 Sep 04 11:18 PM

galley0,

I don't think so. Also, "wrought havoc" appears to be popular in a Google search.

Hope that helps.

MountainHiker

anon1

Joined on Fri, Jul 2 2004

Senior Member (2,049)

Story with a diverse use of tenses

galley0

#44169 Thu, 02 Sep 04 12:47 AM

I also searched Google and arrived at the same conclusion. This is contrary to what I have be been told, but I think we are correct as the term is still used extensively.

Many thanks for your help!!

galley0

anon1

#44170 Thu, 02 Sep 04 01:16 AM

galley0,

I very often use "wreak havoc" in my speech. So I don't see what the big deal is about wrought havoc. I am confident that you can use it with confidence. Smile [:)]

For what it is worth....

GuruNet.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
play havoc

Also, raise or wreak havoc. Disrupt, damage, or destroy something, as in The wind played havoc with her hair, or The fire alarm raised havoc with the children, or The earthquake wrought havoc in the town. The noun havoc was once used as a command for invaders to begin looting and killing, but by the 1800s the term was being used for somewhat less aggressive activities.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hope that helps.

MountainHiker

anon1

Nouns, Idioms