1. Home
2. Idioms
3. tear off

tear off

---

---

tear off (from someone or something)

to leave someone or something in a great hurry. I hate to tear off from you guys, but I'm late for dinner. It's time for me to go. I have to tear off.

See also: off, tear

tear something off (of) someone or something

 and tear something off

to peel or rip something off someone or something. (Of is usually retained before pronouns.) Max tore the necklace off his victim and ran away with it. He tore off the necklace.

See also: off, tear

tear off something

also tear something off

to quickly remove something She tore off her apron and ran outside to see what had happened.

See also: off, tear

tear off

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]

See also: off, tear

tear off

v.

1. To remove something by ripping or tearing: She reached for the gift and tore off the wrapping paper. He grasped the sales tag and tore it off.

2. To remove something quickly: I unbuttoned my jacket and tore it off. The feverish patient tore off the covers.

3. To leave or drive off rapidly: The painting crew tore off in their van.

4. To produce something hurriedly and casually: The new reporter tears off article after article.

See also: off, tear

tear off

in. to break away; to run away. Don’t tear off without having some of my pie.

See also: off, tear