to tear (someone) a new one
1
9.9
- idiom
- /tɛr ˈsʌmwʌn ə nuː wʌn/
- Offensive
- MAN: He's gonna tear you a new one, Rip!
- gonna tear you a new one
Examples
-
The coach was so angry after the game that he threatened to tear us a new one for our poor performance.
-
If you don't hand over our companions now, he's gonna tear your ship a new one.
-
What, you're not gonna tear him a new one?
-
David M. might decide to tear me a new one for writing that sloppy comment.
Blog text (7) -
David M. might decide to tear me a new one for writing that sloppy comment.
Blog text (7) -
So we should go back to his flat and tear him a new one, that lanky streak of piss.
-
Of course, I’m a little scared David M. might decide to tear me a new one for writing that sloppy.
Blog text (7) -
Of course, I’m a little scared David M. might decide to tear me a new one for writing that sloppy.
Blog text (7) -
When I found out he lied to me, I was furious and wanted to tear him a new one.
-
My father warned me that he would tear me a new one if I failed my exams again.
Synonyms
58
8.1
To angrily tell someone off
54
2.2
Speak angrily to someone who has done something wrong
54
5.9
To criticize someone strongly
36
7.2
Scold someone angrily and severely
35
8.1
To scold someone very strongly for something they did
32
7.6
To scold someone strongly for doing something wrong
25
6.9
To tell someone firmly that you do not approve of their actions
23
7.5
Tell someone angrily that you are unhappy with them
23
8.2
To say angry, insulting things about someone or something
13
5.6
To criticize someone or something harshly
13
6.9
Tear something into many pieces or say very bad things about it
11
5.8
Criticize someone in a very unkind way
9
9.8
To criticize someone or something very harshly in public
8
6.7
Shout loudly at someone because they did something wrong
6
7.9
Scold someone very strongly for a mistake
5
7.4
To attack or criticize someone strongly
5
8.7
Tell someone angrily that they did something wrong
4
7.4
To attack someone with strong angry words
3
8.0
To criticize someone or something very strongly in public
3
8.8
To scold someone strongly for something they did wrong
3
7.3
To severely criticize someone or something
1
6.8
Tell someone angrily that they did something wrong
1
8.1
To attack someone with very strong words
1
8.6
To scold someone very strongly for a mistake
1
9.3
To scold someone angrily for something they did
1
8.5
Criticize or attack someone strongly
1
8.0
To speak to someone in a sudden angry way without good reason
1
9.9
To criticize someone angrily using harsh words
To attack someone with angry words
To attack someone harshly with words, often in writing
Tell someone angrily that you are upset with them
Antonyms
How Harsh
- Offensive
1
9.9
- Informal
5
7.4
36
7.2
54
2.2
653
3.3
Surface Forms
Morphology
tear + (someone) + a + new + one
Although 'tear' denotes violent ripping, combining it with the phrase 'a new one' does not yield the sense 'reprimand severely' from the literal meanings; the referent 'a new one' is semantically opaque. This is a language-specific idiom whose metaphorical violence signals harsh criticism but is not predictable to a B1 learner who only knows the constituent words.
Etymology
The idiom tear (someone) a new one may come from a strong image: think of tear meaning to rip and a new one as a new hole in a person's clothes or body, as if someone is so angry they would make a new opening. That's why the phrase now means 'to scold someone very strongly'.