tore

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(all) tore up

1. Very upset or emotional. A colloquial variant of "(all) torn up." Sean has been really tore up since his wife left him. A: "Did you hear that Joe died?" B: "I know, I can't believe it. The whole thing's got me feeling all tore up." Thank goodness you found our cat! We've been all tore up since she ran away.

2. Very sorry and remorseful. She's acting all tore up about the whole thing, but really I think she's just sorry she got caught. I know you're angry with him, but Tom's genuinely tore up about what happened. You have a clear shot at the trophy now, so I'm pretty sure you're not actually tore up about my disqualification.

3. slang Very drunk. Do you remember last night at all? You were so tore up you could barely speak! We're going to the club tonight to get all tore up! Ugh, my head is pounding. I need to remember this feeling the next time I think getting all tore up is a good idea.

See also: tore, up

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

tore (up)

 and torn (up) 

1. Sl. distraught; emotionally upset. I knew you'd be tore up. Fred's really torn up about the accident.

2. Sl. intoxicated. He wasn't just drunk—he was massively tore up. Boy, was she torn.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

tore

verb

See tore up

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.