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

See Examples For:

tear it

Unfortunately, rebuilding the agency will not be nearly as easy as it was for Musk and his minions to tear it down.

From Slate ● Apr. 23, 2026

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

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 31, 2026

In the 1980s, plans to tear it down and build a mall sparked a local uprising to save the historic symbol of the neighborhood’s vibrancy.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 9, 2026

The Crown Estate Commission gave her permission to tear it down and rebuild in the iconic red brick Georgian style that remains today.

From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2025

"Will Harper tear it down before the rest of the school gets to see it?"

From "You Bring the Distant Near" by Mitali Perkins