tear it

Idioms  

1. Ruin something, spoil one's chances, as in She knew she'd torn it when she lost the address. It is often put as that tears it, as in He's a whole week late—well, that tears it for the September issue. [Colloquial; early 1900s]

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Example Sentences

I grab the postcard, ready to tear it into a million pieces, but then I come to my senses.

From Literature

He could tear it into strips but he knew it was not heavy enough to hold the trees together, once they were afloat.

From Literature

In 1987, Ronald Reagan stood before the Berlin Wall and challenged Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to tear it down.

From The Wall Street Journal

I rip the winged leopard out of the sketch pad and tear it up.

From Literature

I unravel the twine and unfold the paper, careful not to tear it so we can use it again for something else.

From Literature