rend one's garments

The phrase 'rend one's garments' has its roots in ancient cultural practices, where tearing one's clothes symbolized deep sorrow or mourning.

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Definition

(idiomatic, formal)To tear one's clothes as a display of intense grief or distress.

In ancient times, people would rend their garments to show their mourning for the deceased.
He was so devastated by the news that he felt like he needed to rend his garments in despair.

(figurative)To show extreme emotional pain or sorrow, often in an exaggerated manner.

She didn't literally rend her garments, but her reaction to the loss was equally dramatic.
The villagers rended their garments metaphorically, expressing their outrage at the injustice.

Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "rend one's garments":