View synonyms for ashes

ashes

/ ˈæʃɪz /

plural noun

ruins or remains, as after destruction or burning
the city was left in ashes
the remains of a human body after cremation

Ashes

/ ˈæʃɪz /

plural noun

the Ashes
a cremated cricket stump in a pottery urn now preserved at Lord's. Victory or defeat in test matches between England and Australia is referred to as winning, losing, or retaining the Ashes

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Word History and Origins

Origin of ashes¹

from the mock obituary of English cricket in The Times in 1882 after a great Australian victory at the Oval, in which it was said that the body would be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia

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