tear.html - {v. phr.} To be constantly on the go; dash around. * /No one can understand how she manages to tear around from one social event to another and yet be a good mother to her children./

tear.html - {v.} 1. To take all down in pieces; destroy. * /The workmen tore down the old house and built a new house in its place./ 2. To take to pieces or parts. * /The mechanics had to tear down the engine, and fix it, and put it together again./ 3. To say bad things about; criticize. * /"Why do you always tear people down? Why don't you try to say nice things about them?"/ * /Dorothy doesn't like Sandra, and at the class meeting she tore down every idea Sandra suggested./

tear.html - {v.}, {informal} 1. To start a fight with; attack. * /The puppy is tearing into the big dog./ Syn.: PITCH INTO. 2. To quarrel with; scold. * /Mrs. Brown ripped into her daughter for coming home late./ Syn.: BAWL OUT, LACE INTO, LAY OUT, LET HAVE IT.

tear.html - {v. phr.} To attack vigorously, physically or verbally. * /The anxious buyers tore into the wedding gowns on sale at the famous department store./ See: RIP INTO.

tear.html - {v. phr.} To show sorrow, anger, or defeat. * /Ben tore his hair when he saw the wrecked car./ * /The teacher tore his hair at the boy's stupid answer./ * /It was time to go to class, but Mary had not finished the report she had to give, and she began tearing her hair./

tear.html - {v. phr.} To force oneself to leave; leave reluctantly. * /The beaches in Hawaii are so lovely that I had to tear myself away from them in order to get back to my job in Chicago./