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

---

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]

---

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

After setting up the characters as simply bad or good, “Destiny of Desire” slowly starts to tear away preconceived notions of who these people are and reveals their complexities.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 21, 2023

A combination of damaged sluice gates and high water might tear away a few gates, but would not be expected to rip apart so much of the dam, the professor said.

From New York Times ● Jun. 6, 2023

“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

But she reached out to him after wiping a tear away.

From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro