tear-off

[ tair-awf, -of ]

/ ˈtɛərˌɔf, -ˌɒf /

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adjective

designed to be easily removed by tearing, usually along a perforated line: a sales letter with a tear-off order blank.

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Origin of tear-off

First recorded in 1885–90; adj., noun use of verb phrase tear off

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use tear-off in a sentence

Although the blood-spattered offices will be off-limits, staff have vowed to continue producing the magazine.
France Mourns—and Hunts|Nico Hines, Christopher Dickey|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
A passing off-duty school safety officer named Fred Lucas said that he had been told the man was a drug dealer.
Shot Down During the NYPD Slowdown|Michael Daly|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The NOPD fired Knight in 1973 for stealing lumber from a construction site as an off-duty cop.
The Louisiana Racists Who Courted Steve Scalise|Jason Berry|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The off-year special election into which Duke threw himself drew little media notice at first.
The Louisiana Racists Who Courted Steve Scalise|Jason Berry|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST

Aaron Paul may play a young Han Solo in the first Star Wars spin-off.
Juiciest ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ Rumors (and Some Debunked Ones)|Rich Goldstein|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
A far-off volley rumbled over the plain, and a few birds stirred uneasily among the trees.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
Louis turned at the exclamation, and looked on the faithful servant; but no tear was in his eye, no sound on his lip.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter
By what word is the relation between “pendulum” and “a smile and tear” described?
Assimilative Memory|Marcus Dwight Larrowe (AKA Prof. A. Loisette)
In the tear-stained story of humanity there has never been aught to surpass the thrilling record of Cawnpore.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
In a short time you will be able, in the language of Dr. Johnson, “to tear out the heart of any book.”
Assimilative Memory|Marcus Dwight Larrowe (AKA Prof. A. Loisette)

British Dictionary definitions for tear-off

tear off

/ (tɛə) /

verb

(tr) to separate by tearing

(intr, adverb) to rush away; hurry

(tr, adverb) to produce in a hurry; do quickly and carelesslyto tear off a letter

tear someone off a strip British informal to reprimand or rebuke someone forcibly

adjective tear-off

(of paper, etc) produced in a roll or block and marked with perforations so that one section at a time can be torn off

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 tear-off

tear off

Produce hurriedly and casually, as in He tore off a poem a day for an entire month.

Leave in a hurry, as in She tore off to the store because it was about to close. [c. 1900]