灭顶之灾 devastating disaster
Explanation
灭顶之灾：灭顶，水漫过头顶。比喻毁灭性的灾难。
Devastating disaster: The metaphor describes a disastrous event that leads to complete destruction.
Origin Story
传说很久以前，在一个偏僻的小山村里，住着一户人家，他们世世代代以捕鱼为生。然而，一场突如其来的特大洪水，瞬间吞没了他们的家园，将一切美好的事物都冲走，村民们逃离了家园，有的幸运的逃脱了，有的却永远的留在了那里。这场洪水，就像是一场灭顶之灾，给这个小山村带来了无法磨灭的伤痛。
Legend has it that a long time ago, in a remote mountain village, there lived a family who had made their living by fishing for generations. However, a sudden, massive flood instantly swallowed up their homes and washed away everything beautiful. The villagers fled their homes, some escaping luckily, while others were forever left behind. This flood was like a devastating disaster that inflicted an indelible pain on this mountain village.
Usage
灭顶之灾常用来形容极其严重的灾难，通常指毁灭性的打击或灾难。
The idiom “Devastating Disaster” is often used to describe extremely serious disasters, usually referring to destructive blows or disasters.
Examples
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这场大火给他带来了灭顶之灾。
zhe chang da huo gei ta dailai le mieding zhizai
The big fire brought him a devastating disaster.
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这次金融危机对许多中小企业来说是灭顶之灾。
zhe ci jinrong weiji dui xu duo zhongxiao qiye laishuo shi mieding zhizai
This financial crisis was a devastating disaster for many small and medium-sized enterprises.