in tatters

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in tatters

damaged beyond repair. They argued and fought for years, and their relationship is now in tatters.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of clothing in tatters (= torn in small pieces)

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? References in classic literature
Vassenka Veslovsky had had no notion before that it was truly chic for a sportsman to be in tatters, but to have his shooting outfit of the best quality. Anna Karenina by Tolstoy, Leo View in context The damask cushion, once so splendid, was now squeezed out of all shape, and absolutely in tatters, so many were the ponderous gentlemen who had deposited their weight upon it during these thirty years. Grandfather's Chair by Hawthorne, Nathaniel View in context The paper had come off the bottom of the wall and hung there in tatters. Crime And Punishment by Dostoyevsky, Fyodor View in context More results

References in classic literature

Vassenka Veslovsky had had no notion before that it was truly chic for a sportsman to be in tatters, but to have his shooting outfit of the best quality.

Anna Karenina by Tolstoy, Leo View in context

The damask cushion, once so splendid, was now squeezed out of all shape, and absolutely in tatters, so many were the ponderous gentlemen who had deposited their weight upon it during these thirty years.

Grandfather's Chair by Hawthorne, Nathaniel View in context

The paper had come off the bottom of the wall and hung there in tatters.

Crime And Punishment by Dostoyevsky, Fyodor View in context

More results

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in stitches
in stocking feet
in stocking/stockinged feet
in store
in sum
in summary
in tandem

in tatters
in tears
in terms of
in that regard
in the air
in the altogether
in the back of mind
in the bag

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