tear apart
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb: 1. To criticize someone or something very severely and harshly: To express a completely negative opinion, often in a way that is destructive or merciless. 2. To cause severe emotional distress or conflict: To damage or destroy a relationship, group, or person's feelings through intense disagreement or strife. 3. To physically pull or rip something into pieces: To separate something into parts by pulling violently (This literal meaning is the basis for the figurative uses).
Usage and Examples
- Verb (Figurative - To criticize harshly):
- The harsh reviewer tore apart the author's new novel, calling it shallow and poorly written.
- During the debate, each candidate tried to tear apart the other's policy proposals.
- Verb (Figurative - To cause emotional division):
- The bitter custody battle tore the family apart.
- Political differences are tearing the community apart.
- Verb (Literal - To pull into pieces):
- The dog tore apart the stuffed toy. (Note: This is the core meaning from which the idioms derive.)
Advanced Usage and Notes
- The phrase is often used in passive constructions, especially for the emotional meaning: "She was by guilt."
- It can describe internal conflict: "I'm by this difficult decision."
- In criticism, it implies a thorough and destructive analysis, not just mild disapproval.
Variants and Related Words
- Tear (someone/something) to pieces/shreds: A very similar idiom meaning to criticize destructively.
- The committee tore his proposal to shreds.
- Rip apart: A synonym, often interchangeable, especially for the literal and emotional meanings.
- Devastating criticism: A noun phrase describing the result of being "torn apart."
Synonyms
- Lambaste: To criticize severely.
- Trash: (Informal) To criticize very harshly.
- Savagely criticize: To attack with fierce criticism.
- Destroy: (In the context of criticism or conflict).
- Rend: (More formal/literary, for both physical and emotional separation).
Phrasal Verbs / Idiomatic Structures
- Tear (someone/something) apart is itself a phrasal verb. The particle "apart" is essential for the figurative meanings.
- Tear into (someone/something): To attack or criticize someone fiercely and directly.
- The manager tore into the team for their lack of preparation.
Related Idioms
- Be torn between (A and B): To find it very difficult to choose between two options or loyalties.
- He was torn between staying with his family and accepting the job abroad.
- Wear and tear: The damage that happens to an object through ordinary use over time (Note: This is a fixed noun phrase, not a verb phrase).
- Tear one's hair out: To be extremely worried, anxious, or frustrated.
- I'm tearing my hair out trying to meet this deadline.
Verb
- express a totally negative opinion of
- The critics panned the performance