tearaway
[ tair-uh-wey ]
/ ˈtɛər əˌweɪ /
Save This Word!
adjective
designed to be easily separated or opened by tearing: a box with a tearaway seal.
noun
British. a wild, reckless person.
QUIZ
CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?
There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?
Question 1 of 7
Which sentence is correct?
Origin of tearaway
First recorded in 1825–35; adj., noun use of verb phrase tear away
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use tearaway in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for tearaway
tear away
/ (tɛə) /
verb
(tr, adverb) to persuade (oneself or someone else) to leaveI couldn't tear myself away from the television
noun tearaway
British
- a reckless impetuous unruly person
- (as modifier)a tearaway young man
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with tearaway
tear away
Remove oneself unwillingly or reluctantly, as in I couldn't tear myself away from that painting. [Late 1700s]
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.