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Synonyms

tear-off

American  
[tair-awf, -of] / ˈtɛərˌɔf, -ˌɒf /

adjective

  1. designed to be easily removed by tearing, usually along a perforated line.

    a sales letter with a tear-off order blank.
tear off British  
/ tɛə /

verb

  1. (tr) to separate by tearing

  2. (intr, adverb) to rush away; hurry

  3. (tr, adverb) to produce in a hurry; do quickly and carelessly

    to tear off a letter

  4. informal to reprimand or rebuke someone forcibly

"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

adjective

  1. (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
tear off Idioms  

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

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

Etymology

Origin of tear-off

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"My tear-off has gone in the brake duct," says the reigning world champion.

From BBC • May 16, 2024

Race winner Colton Herta said he also struggled with visibility — until his team pulled a used tear-off screen.

From Seattle Times • May 15, 2022

For example, one poster said “If you are mad, think of positive thoughts”, and had tear-off strips reminding people to “Be happy”.

From NewsForKids.net • Mar. 22, 2022

The Corn Bowl recipe first appeared in the 1960s as a recipe tear-off sheet in retail grocery stores.

From Salon • Oct. 24, 2021

“Sure. Like the ones with the tear-off phone number things?”

From "Amina's Song" by Hena Khan

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.