tear away

British  

/ tɛə /

verb

1. (tr, adverb) to persuade (oneself or someone else) to leave

   I couldn't tear myself away from the television

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noun

1. 1. a reckless impetuous unruly person

   2. ( as modifier )

      a tearaway young man

tear away Idioms  

1. Remove oneself unwillingly or reluctantly, as in I couldn't tear myself away from that painting. [Late 1700s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tear away

Dressed head to toe in black she looks tough, but she fiddles with her studded choker nervously and wipes a mascara-stained tear away from her cheek.

From BBC ● Jan. 25, 2024

“You have to use your nails to carefully, gently tear away the pieces,” she said, as she creased a line down the paper with her nails.

From Salon ● Jul. 15, 2018

Or the bottom of a dinghy would simply tear away and all the passengers would be cast into the water.

From New York Times ● Sep. 28, 2016

"That always seems to tear away a few onion layers," the actor says.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 17, 2015

“I just saw it tear away and slip under the water. It’s gone.”

From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz