setback a problem that stops you from making progress:
The space program suffered a major setback when the space shuttle, Discovery, exploded.snag informal a problem, especially one that you had not expected:
There’s a snag – I don’t have his number.hitch a small problem that delays or prevents something:
There have been a few last-minute hitches.trouble when something does not work in the way it should:
The plane developed engine trouble.hassle spoken a situation that is annoying because it causes problems:
Just trying to store all this stuff is a hassle.tear to damage paper or cloth by pulling it too hard, or letting it touch something sharp:
She unwrapped the present carefully, trying not to tear the paper. I tore a hole in my jacket, climbing over the fence.rip to tear something quickly or violently:
Beth excitedly ripped open the package. Stop pulling my dress! You’ll rip it!split to tear your trousers or shirt when you put them on, because they are too tight for you:
He bent down and split his trousers. Oh no, now I’ve split my shirt.ladder British English if a woman ladders her
tights or
STOCKINGS, she tears them so that a long thin line appears in them:
Damn! I’ve laddered my tights!shred to deliberately destroy letters, documents etc by cutting them into thin pieces, often by using a special machine:
In order to prevent fraud, it’s best to shred your bank statements. I went through all my papers shredding things I didn’t need.frayed torn a little along the edges – used about clothes, carpets etc that have been used a lot:
He was wearing an old pair of frayed jeans. The rug was a little frayed around the edges. The jacket was a little frayed at the cuffs. [TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲
tear to damage paper or cloth by pulling it too hard, or letting it touch something sharp:
She unwrapped the present carefully, trying not to tear the paper. I tore a hole in my jacket, climbing over the fence.rip to tear something quickly or violently:
Beth excitedly ripped open the package. Stop pulling my dress! You’ll rip it!split to tear your trousers or shirt when you put them on, because they are too tight for you:
He bent down and split his trousers. Oh no, now I’ve split my shirt.ladder British English if a woman ladders her
tights or
STOCKINGS, she tears them so that a long thin line appears in them:
Damn! I’ve laddered my tights!snag to catch a piece of clothing on something rough or sharp so that it tears slightly:
I snagged my shirt on a nail.shred to deliberately destroy letters, documents etc by cutting them into thin pieces, often by using a special machine:
In order to prevent fraud, it’s best to shred your bank statements. I went through all my papers shredding things I didn’t need.frayed torn a little along the edges – used about clothes, carpets etc that have been used a lot:
He was wearing an old pair of frayed jeans. The rug was a little frayed around the edges. The jacket was a little frayed at the cuffs. [TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲