tear (someone or something) to pieces

tear (someone or something) to pieces

1. To criticize, upbraid, or condemn someone or something severely or thoroughly. A: "Have you heard anything about this movie we're about to see?" B: "Well, one reviewer tore it to pieces, but I still think it's going to be great." I hear John's bosses tore him to pieces at his annual performance review.

2. To cause great damage, disorder, or ruin to someone or something. Enjoy the tranquility and order of your house now because soon, your kids will start tearing the place to pieces. Sarah's very first opponent in amateur boxing tore her to pieces, but that's how it goes for most novice fighters.

See also: piece, tear

tear someone or something to pieces

 and tear someone or something to shreds

to rip or shred someone or something into bits. Careful of that dog. It will tear you to pieces! The dog tore the newspaper to pieces. It tore my shoes to shreds.

See also: piece, tear

tear somebody/something to ˈpieces/ˈshreds

criticize somebody/something; completely destroy something: The press tore the Government’s economic plans to shreds. ♢ The Prime Minister tore his opponents’ arguments to pieces. OPPOSITE: praise somebody/something to the skies

See also: piece, shred, somebody, something, tear