tear into
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To subject to a heavy attack, physical or figurative.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
They tore into a stunned City and there was only a minute on the clock when Samir Nasri slipped Jack Wilshere into the area, the 19-year-old's left-foot pass to the far post agonisingly evading a lunging Van Persie.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “tear into” mean?
To subject to a heavy attack, physical or figurative.
Is “tear into” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.