tear away
The phrase "tear away" can describe a forceful removal or detachment, and is often used in emotional or urgent contexts.
Definition
B2General
(transitive, often reflexive)To remove someone or oneself from a place or situation with difficulty or reluctance.
Example
- She had to tear herself away from the party to get back to work.
- The mother couldn't tear her eyes away from her child's performance.
B2Design
(technical)Describing a feature designed to be easily removed by tearing.
Example
- The packaging has a tear-away strip for easy opening.
- He wore tear-away pants for the quick costume change.
B2Behavior
(informal, noun)A young person who behaves in a reckless or unruly manner.
Example
- The neighborhood tearaway caused trouble at the park again.
- Teachers often struggle with tearaways in the classroom.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "tear away":
tear offpeel awaytear aparttear atpeel offtear uprip outrip intotear alongtear it uppull aparttear downbreak awaypull awayrip upcome aparttake apartstrip offdraw awayclaw offcut awaytear linetake offstrip awaypull offburn awayfall awayeat away atpeal outblow apartrip to shredslet ripfall apartpick apartpull outyank offtake awaycome awaymake awaymove awayrip offslip offtease outstrip downcome offthrow offshed a tearsweep awaybreak outblow awaywash awaychew offclear awayon a tearsunder outthrow awaytore upcrack offfall offcut loosewalk away frombreak offbite off