1
general::
1. Upset or make distraught, as in The parents' divorce tore apart the grandparents. [Second half of 1800s] 2. Criticize severely, as in The professor tore her paper apart. [Mid-1900s] 3. Search some place completely, as in The police tore the house apart. [Second half of 1900s] 4. Separate, especially unwillingly, as in The war tore many families apart.
American Heritage Idioms
2
general::
Phrase(s): tear someone apart
1. Lit. to rip someone apart savagely. (See also tear something apart.) • Max threatened to tear Tom apart. • The bear tore apart the hiker. 2. Fig. to cause two people, presumably lovers, to separate unwillingly. • The enormous disruption of the accident tore them apart and they separated. • The bickering between their parents finally tore apart the engaged couple. 3. Fig. to cause someone enormous grief or emotional pain. • The death of her dog tore her apart. • It was the dog’s death that tore apart Barbara. 4. Fig. to criticize someone mercilessly. • The critic tore apart the entire cast of the play. • Why do you have to tear yourself apart for making a little error?, Phrase(s): tear something apart
1. to pull or rip something apart. (See also tear someone apart.) • The bear tore the tent apart. • The lions tore apart the wildebeest in minutes, and began eating it. 2. to criticize something mercilessly. • The critic tore apart the entire cast of the play. 3. to divide something or the members of a group, citizens of a country, etc. • The financial crisis tore the club apart. • The crisis tore apart the organization., Phrase(s): tear a place apart
Fig. to search somewhere to the point of destruction. • The cops came with a search warrant and tore your room apart. • If you don’t come up with the money you kept for us, we’ll tear apart your house!
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs