1tear 
/ˈteɚ/ verb
tears; tore /ˈteɚ/ verb /ˈtoɚ/; torn /ˈtoɚn/; tear·ing 1 always followed by an adverb or preposition : to separate (something) into parts by pulling it, cutting it, etc. : to rip, split, or open (something) quickly or violently [+ obj] ▪ He tore the letter in half. ▪ They began tearing their presents open. ▪ He tore apart the two tickets and handed one to me. ▪ The dog tore the pillow to pieces/shreds. [no obj] ▪ Tear along the dotted line. 2 a : to make (a hole or opening) in a piece of clothing, a piece of paper, etc., usually by cutting it on something sharp [+ obj] ▪ She tore a hole in her sock when she jumped over the fence. [no obj] ▪ His coat got caught on a nail and tore. ▪ His pants tore at the seam.
b [+ obj] : to make (a hole, a path) in a violent or forceful way
▪ The explosion tore a hole in the side of the building. — sometimes used figuratively ▪ The new evidence could tear a hole in their theory. [=it could show that their theory is not correct] 3 [+ obj] : to cut or injure (skin, a muscle, etc.)
▪ He tore a ligament in his left knee during football practice. ▪ a torn leg muscle ▪ When she fell, she tore the skin on her elbow. 4 always followed by an adverb or preposition [+ obj] : to remove (something) quickly or violently
▪ The curtains had been torn from the windows. ▪ She tore the book out of my hands. ▪ They decided to tear out the kitchen's old cabinets. ▪ He tore the page out of the magazine. ▪ I wanted to tear her head off! ▪ He tore off a piece of bread and ate it. ▪ She tore a corner off of a sheet of paper and wrote her number on it. ▪ Open up or we'll tear down this door! ▪ The police officer grabbed him, but he managed to tear himself loose/free. [=to pull himself away from the police officer] 5 always followed by an adverb or preposition [no obj] : to go or move very quickly
▪ The kids tore into the house and up the stairs. ▪ We watched the cars tear around the track. ▪ He went tearing down the street on his bicycle. ▪ The fire tore through the forest. ▪ An epidemic was tearing through the region. ▪ The bullet tore through his leg. 6 [+ obj] : to damage or harm (something, such as a country) very badly — usually used as (be) torn ▪ The region has been torn [=ravaged] by disease and hunger for the last 50 years. ▪ a country torn by violence ▪ a war-torn country 7 [+ obj] : to cause (someone) to feel confused, upset, etc., especially about making a choice or decision — often + apart or up ▪ I can't decide, and it's tearing me apart! ▪ It's tearing me up (inside). — usually used as (be) torn ▪ I've been trying to decide, but I'm still torn. [=I'm still unable to decide] ▪ She was torn by conflicting loyalties. — often + between ▪ He is torn between his career and his responsibilities as a father. ▪ a person torn between two lovers
b [+ obj] : to make (a hole, a path) in a violent or forceful way
▪ The explosion tore a hole in the side of the building. — sometimes used figuratively ▪ The new evidence could tear a hole in their theory. [=it could show that their theory is not correct]
▪ He tore a ligament in his left knee during football practice. ▪ a torn leg muscle ▪ When she fell, she tore the skin on her elbow.
▪ The curtains had been torn from the windows. ▪ She tore the book out of my hands. ▪ They decided to tear out the kitchen's old cabinets. ▪ He tore the page out of the magazine. ▪ I wanted to tear her head off! ▪ He tore off a piece of bread and ate it. ▪ She tore a corner off of a sheet of paper and wrote her number on it. ▪ Open up or we'll tear down this door! ▪ The police officer grabbed him, but he managed to tear himself loose/free. [=to pull himself away from the police officer]
▪ The kids tore into the house and up the stairs. ▪ We watched the cars tear around the track. ▪ He went tearing down the street on his bicycle. ▪ The fire tore through the forest. ▪ An epidemic was tearing through the region. ▪ The bullet tore through his leg.
tear apart [phrasal verb] 1 tear (something) apart or tear apart (something) : to completely destroy (something) by tearing it into pieces
▪ I couldn't open the box nicely, so I just tore it apart. — often used figuratively ▪ The robbers tore apart the house [=they made a mess in the house] looking for the money. ▪ We tore the other team apart [=we easily beat the other team] in yesterday's game. ▪ Civil war threatened to tear apart the country. ▪ We can't agree, and it's tearing our family apart. 2 tear (someone or something) apart or tear apart (someone or something) : to criticize (someone or something) in a very harsh or angry way especially by describing weaknesses, flaws, etc.
▪ The article tears apart the government's handling of the situation. ▪ I thought it was a good movie, but she tore it apart. ▪ They tore him apart when he left. — see also 1tear 1, 7 (above)
▪ I couldn't open the box nicely, so I just tore it apart. — often used figuratively ▪ The robbers tore apart the house [=they made a mess in the house] looking for the money. ▪ We tore the other team apart [=we easily beat the other team] in yesterday's game. ▪ Civil war threatened to tear apart the country. ▪ We can't agree, and it's tearing our family apart.
▪ The article tears apart the government's handling of the situation. ▪ I thought it was a good movie, but she tore it apart. ▪ They tore him apart when he left. — see also 1tear 1, 7 (above)
tear at [phrasal verb]
tear at (someone or something) : to attack and pull pieces from (something) in a violent way
▪ The cat tore at my pants with its claws. ▪ wolves tearing at a dead deer — often used figuratively ▪ Those two are always tearing at each other's throats. [=always arguing with and harshly criticizing each other] ▪ Her sadness tore at his heart. [=made him very upset/unhappy]
▪ The cat tore at my pants with its claws. ▪ wolves tearing at a dead deer — often used figuratively ▪ Those two are always tearing at each other's throats. [=always arguing with and harshly criticizing each other] ▪ Her sadness tore at his heart. [=made him very upset/unhappy]
tear away [phrasal verb]
tear (someone or something) away : to cause (someone) to leave or move away from something
▪ I needed to leave the party, but I couldn't tear myself away. ▪ She couldn't tear him away from the TV. ▪ He couldn't tear his eyes away from the TV. [=he could not stop watching the TV] — see also tearaway
▪ I needed to leave the party, but I couldn't tear myself away. ▪ She couldn't tear him away from the TV. ▪ He couldn't tear his eyes away from the TV. [=he could not stop watching the TV] — see also tearaway
tear down [phrasal verb]
tear down (something) or tear (something) down : to completely destroy (something, such as a building or wall)
▪ They tore down the old hospital and built a new one. ▪ We're planning to tear down the wall between the kitchen and the dining room. — often used figuratively ▪ tearing down walls of injustice ▪ They're trying to tear his reputation down.
▪ They tore down the old hospital and built a new one. ▪ We're planning to tear down the wall between the kitchen and the dining room. — often used figuratively ▪ tearing down walls of injustice ▪ They're trying to tear his reputation down.
tear into
[phrasal verb] informal 1 tear into (something) : to begin doing (something) in a very quick or forceful way
▪ The kids tore into the pizza. [=quickly began eating the pizza] ▪ The band tore into the next song with a lot of energy. 2 tear into (someone or something) : to criticize (someone or something) in a very harsh or angry way
▪ My father tore into me for coming home an hour late. ▪ The critics tore into her performance in the movie.
▪ The kids tore into the pizza. [=quickly began eating the pizza] ▪ The band tore into the next song with a lot of energy.
▪ My father tore into me for coming home an hour late. ▪ The critics tore into her performance in the movie.
tear (someone) limb from limb — see limb
tear (someone) off a strip — see 1strip
tear (someone or something) to pieces/shreds
: to criticize (someone or something) in a very harsh or angry way
▪ They tore my idea to pieces. ▪ The actress was torn to shreds in the press. — see also 1tear 1 (above)
▪ They tore my idea to pieces. ▪ The actress was torn to shreds in the press. — see also 1tear 1 (above)
tear up [phrasal verb]
tear up (something) or tear (something) up 1 : to completely destroy (something) by tearing it into pieces
▪ I tore the letter up and threw it away. — often used figuratively ▪ They offered to tear up his old contract [=get rid of his old contract] and give him a new one. ▪ The burglars tore the house up. [=made a mess in the house] 2 : to break apart and remove pieces of (something)
▪ The city tore the street up to fix a broken water main. ▪ They tore up 20 acres of forest and built a new shopping mall. 3 chiefly US, informal : to perform very well on or in (something)
▪ They were tearing up the dance floor. [=they were dancing in very skillful, energetic, and impressive way] ▪ He tore up the league last season.
▪ I tore the letter up and threw it away. — often used figuratively ▪ They offered to tear up his old contract [=get rid of his old contract] and give him a new one. ▪ The burglars tore the house up. [=made a mess in the house]
▪ The city tore the street up to fix a broken water main. ▪ They tore up 20 acres of forest and built a new shopping mall.
▪ They were tearing up the dance floor. [=they were dancing in very skillful, energetic, and impressive way] ▪ He tore up the league last season.
tear your hair out — see hair
that's torn it
Brit, informal — used to say that something is no longer possible ▪ Well, that's torn it. Now everyone knows my little secret. ▪ That's torn it: the deal's off!
— compare 4tear
