tear up
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb: - To physically rip or pull something apart into pieces, often forcefully or with emotion. - To destroy or cancel a document, such as a contract or piece of paper, by ripping it.
Usage
The verb "tear up" is transitive and requires a direct object (the thing being ripped). It describes the action of tearing something into multiple pieces. It can be used in both literal and figurative contexts.
Examples
- Literal Action:
- She was so angry that she tore up the letter immediately.
- Please don't tear up the important documents.
- Figurative/Emotional Context:
- The critic tore up the author's new novel in her review. (Meaning: criticized it very harshly, as if destroying it.)
- He tore up the old contract and offered a new one.
Advanced Usage
- "to tear up" (intransitive phrasal verb): To begin to cry, to have one's eyes fill with tears.
- She tore up when she heard the good news.
- Passive Voice:
- The treaty was torn up by the new government.
Variants and Related Words
- Tear (verb): To pull apart or into pieces by force. (e.g., )
- Shred (verb): To tear or cut into small, narrow pieces. (e.g., )
- Rip up (verb): A synonym with nearly identical meaning to "tear up."
Synonyms
- Rip up
- Shred
- Destroy (a document)
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Tear apart: To criticize someone or something very severely; or to cause great emotional pain.
- The scandal tore the family apart.
- Tear down: To demolish or destroy a structure.
- They plan to tear down the old factory.
Related Idioms
- Tear (someone) to shreds: To criticize someone very harshly.
- The panel tore the candidate's proposal to shreds during the debate.
Verb
- tear into shreds