tear apart

tear apart someone/something

1. to severely criticize someone or something. The critics tore apart his first novel, but he never gave up and finally achieved great success. His teachers tore him apart for cheating on the test.

2. to hurt someone or something badly. The college was torn apart by antiwar protests. The families of the victims were torn apart with grief and anger and sorrow. Success has a way of tearing up relationships.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of tear apart (= pull into pieces)

See also: apart, tear