english
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noun water from eye: A tear ran down her cheek. verb rip: The paper will tear if you're careless.
Simple Definitions
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In addition to the idioms beginning with TEAR, Also see RIP (TEAR) INTO; WEAR AND TEAR. Also see under TEARS; TORN.
American Heritage Idioms
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tear sth down [ M ] to intentionally destroy a building or other structure because it is not being used or it is not wanted any more • They're going to tear down the old hospital and build a new one.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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tear sth off [ M ] to remove your clothes quickly and carelessly • I tore my sweaty clothes off and jumped into the shower.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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tear sb away to make someone stop doing something that they enjoy, usually because they have to go somewhere or do something else • I'll bring Tim, if I can tear him away from the football. • [ R ]: You could come to the party with us. That's if you can tear your self away from that new boyfriend of yours!
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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tear sth apart [ M ] DESTROY 3. to destroy a building or room • The blast had torn the building apart.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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tear sth up [ M ] PAPER 1. to tear paper into a lot of small pieces • He tore the letter up and threw it away.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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tear sth apart [ M ] PULL VIOLENTLY 1. to pull something so violently that it breaks into two or more pieces • A dog can tear a rabbit apart in seconds.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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tear to damage paper or cloth by pulling it too hard, or letting it touch something sharp: • She unwrapped the present carefully, trying not to tear the paper. • I tore a hole in my jacket, climbing over the fence. rip to tear something quickly or violently: • Beth excitedly ripped open the package. • Stop pulling my dress! You’ll rip it! split to tear your trousers or shirt when you put them on, because they are too tight for you: • He bent down and split his trousers. • Oh no, now I’ve split my shirt. ladder British English if a woman ladders her tights or stockings , she tears them so that a long thin line appears in them: • Damn! I’ve laddered my tights! snag to catch a piece of clothing on something rough or sharp so that it tears slightly: • I snagged my shirt on a nail. shred to deliberately destroy letters, documents etc by cutting them into thin pieces, often by using a special machine: • In order to prevent fraud, it’s best to shred your bank statements. • I went through all my papers shredding things I didn’t need. frayed torn a little along the edges – used about clothes, carpets etc that have been used a lot: • He was wearing an old pair of frayed jeans. • The rug was a little frayed around the edges. • The jacket was a little frayed at the cuffs.
Longman-Thesaurus
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tear into sb informal to criticize someone or something very strongly • Unfortunately, if he doesn't agree with you, he tends to tear into you.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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tear phrases be in tears (= be crying ) • When Evelyn put the phone down, she was in tears. be in floods of tears British English (= be crying a lot ) • By the time she left, she was in floods of tears. be close to/on the verge of tears (= be almost crying ) • He could see that May was close to tears. there are tears in sb’s eyes • As she watched, there were tears of joy in her eyes. tears of joy/frustration/rage etc • The tears he shed were tears of joy. verbs burst into tears (= suddenly start crying ) • She burst into tears and begged me to stay. break down in tears (= suddenly start crying ) • I broke down in tears when I read the letter. be moved to tears (= be so upset that you cry ) • Members of the audience were moved to tears by her singing. bring tears to sb’s eyes (= make somebody cry ) • This unexpected kindness brings tears to my eyes. reduce somebody to tears (= make somebody cry ) • His insults had reduced her to tears, but she had not changed her mind. hold back the tears (= not cry even though you feel like crying ) • She gave her version of events, often struggling to hold back the tears. fight/choke/blink back tears (= try not to cry ) • She fought back tears yesterday as she re-lived the horrors she had seen. shed/weep tears (= cry ) • Don’t shed any tears for him. sb’s eyes fill with tears • His eyes filled with tears as he recalled his mother’s sacrifices. tears well up in sb’s eyes (= tears come into their eyes ) • She broke off, feeling the tears welling up in her eyes. tears run/roll/stream down sb’s face • Oliver laughed until tears ran down his face. adjectives bitter tears • She wept bitter tears of remorse for leaving her children behind. tear 2 phrases tear a hole in something • She caught her shawl on a nail and tore a hole in it. tear something open • She tore open the envelope. tear something to pieces/shreds • The dogs tore the meat to pieces. tear something in two ( also tear something in half ) • Jack snatched the letter from him and tore it in two.
transnet.ir
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tear sth apart [ M ] DIVIDE PEOPLE 2. to make a group of people that was united, such as a country, family or political party, argue or fight with each other by dividing it into two or more parts • Ethnic rivalries threaten to tear this country apart. • [ R ]: He resigned, depressed at the way that the party was tearing it self apart.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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tear sth up [ M ] AGREEMENT 2. If you tear up an agreement, you refuse to accept it or be controlled by it any more • She tore up the contract and walked out.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs