in tatters
idiom
: clothes that are old and badly torn
They were dressed in tatters.
—often used figurativelyAfter the war, the economy was in tatters.
Her hopes lay in tatters.
Examples of in tatters in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But after years of professional dancing, her back was in tatters: slipped discs, arthritis and degenerative disease.
—
Sarah Handel, NPR, 18 Dec. 2024
The once-thriving world of Iko is in tatters at the mercy of the Giants who rule the 10 realms.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 16 Dec. 2024
In 1989, Hurricane Hugo brought high winds, heavy rain, and a 20-foot storm surge that left Charleston in tatters.
—Lauren Mowery, AFAR Media, 13 Dec. 2024
But in the days ahead, as the guns finally fall silent, Hochstein should support Paris and encourage it to resume talks with the disparate Lebanese factions to end years of political gridlock that have crippled state institutions and left the economy in tatters.
—Firas Maksad, TIME, 26 Nov. 2024
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Sarah Handel, NPR, 18 Dec. 2024
The once-thriving world of Iko is in tatters at the mercy of the Giants who rule the 10 realms.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 16 Dec. 2024
In 1989, Hurricane Hugo brought high winds, heavy rain, and a 20-foot storm surge that left Charleston in tatters.
—Lauren Mowery, AFAR Media, 13 Dec. 2024
But in the days ahead, as the guns finally fall silent, Hochstein should support Paris and encourage it to resume talks with the disparate Lebanese factions to end years of political gridlock that have crippled state institutions and left the economy in tatters.
—Firas Maksad, TIME, 26 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for in tatters
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Cite this Entry
“In tatters.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20tatters. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
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