tear (someone or something) to pieces/shreds

idiom

: to criticize (someone or something) in a very harsh or angry way

They tore my idea to pieces.

The actress was torn to shreds in the press.

Examples of tear (someone or something) to pieces/shreds in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Then sit back and watch the Swifties unleash their fury and tear to shreds the Gordian knot that was once catastrophic global warming. —

Ivan Ehlers, The New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2023 And with thy bloody and invisible hand Cancel and tear to pieces that great bond Which keeps me pale! Coincidence? —

Andrew Stuttaford, National Review, 11 Aug. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tear (someone or something) to pieces/shreds.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Dictionary Entries Near tear (someone or something) to pieces/shreds

tear (someone) off a strip

tear (someone or something) to pieces/shreds

tears spring to someone's eyes

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“Tear (someone or something) to pieces/shreds.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tear%20%28someone%20or%20something%29%20to%20pieces%2Fshreds. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

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