tear something ↔ up phrasal verb (see also tear)

1. to tear a piece of paper or cloth into small pieces Synonym : rip up:
She tore up his letter and threw it away.

2. to remove something from the ground by pulling or pushing it violently:
the remains of trees that had been torn up by the storm

3. tear up an agreement/a contract etc to say that you no longer accept an agreement or contract:
threats to tear up the peace agreement

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

tear up
1. • tear up (someone)
to cause someone much grief
The criminal activities of her son are tearing up the mother.

2. • tear up (something)
to tear something up into small pieces
The child tore up the new telephone book.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

tear up something
• tear up (something)
to tear something up into small pieces
The child tore up the new telephone book.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

tear up
v.
1. To dig a hole in; remove the surface of; remove from the surface.
The city tore up the street to lay a new water pipe.
Mother tore up the carpeting in the living room and had a new rug put in.
2. To tear into pieces.
Mary tore up the old sheets and made costumes for the play out of the pieces.
John tore up his test paper so that his mother wouldn't see his low grade.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

tear up someone
• tear up (someone)
to cause someone much grief
The criminal activities of her son are tearing up the mother.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲