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Glite Dictionary
to rip into

to rip into

4 7.4
To attack someone with strong angry words
  • phrasal verb
  • /rɪp ˈɪntu/
  • Informal
translation icon : criticar duramente
  • We didn't understand why Mr. Kim had to rip into his family the way he did.
  • ripped into Trump
  • ripped into President Bush
  • ripped into the President

And he just starts ripping into me, swearing, calling me the worst names he can think of.

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Examples

  • Mitt has been in the spotlight for a while now, and I watched a video where Anderson Cooper ripped into a preacher for criticizing the Mormons for the "no other gods before me" thing.

    Blog text (2)

  • Christians are ripping into my work just because of my age, and the fact that now I am successful.

    Blog text (11)

  • But the people she rips into the most are the most marginalized people in the United States of America.

    I've Had It

  • Keith pawed at his bag of chips, watching with interest while the two team leaders ripped into each other.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • Lindsay then turned the tables around and started ripping into her father for leaking the recorded phone conversation.

    Blog text (34)

  • And I want to play this clip from Representative Jason Crow where he rips into Trump's cabinet.

  • Crichton, as he deserves, RealClimate rips into that anti-science schlockmeister, Michael Crichton.

    Blog text (16)

  • During the debate, the senator really ripped into the proposed budget cuts, highlighting their negative impact on education.

  • After the disastrous presentation, my boss ripped into me for failing to prepare adequately.

  • The film critic ripped into the latest blockbuster, calling it a waste of time and talent.

Synonyms

to attack
vsto rip into
597 3.4

To strongly criticize someone or something in public

is similar but often carries more energy and enthusiasm
to rip
vsto rip into
  • Informal
99 7.9

To criticize someone strongly with harsh words

is more neutral and used beyond informal speech
to lash out
vsto rip into
71 5.6

Suddenly say angry things about someone by speaking or writing

is forceful and energetic but not necessarily sudden or impulsive
to blast
vsto rip into
  • Literature
61 5.3

To strongly criticize someone in public

is similarly forceful but not necessarily focused on public shaming
to revile
vsto rip into
  • Offensive
23 8.2

To say angry, insulting things about someone or something

is forceful but may aim more to criticize than insult personally
to tear apart
vsto rip into
  • Informal
21 5.6

To criticize someone or something harshly

is more about blunt force than careful fault analysis
to lambast
vsto rip into
12 8.2

To criticize someone very strongly and angrily

is forceful but can be less driven by personal anger
to rip to shreds
vsto rip into
  • Informal
10 6.9

Tear something into many pieces or say very bad things about it

is forceful but does not always aim to utterly destroy
to tear into
vsto rip into
  • Informal
4 7.4

To attack or criticize someone strongly

is the same meaning but expressed with different wording
to put on blast
vsto rip into
  • Offensive
3 9.5

Say bad things about someone in public to show others what they did

is forceful but does not always seek public shaming or exposure
to tear (someone) a new one
vsto rip into
  • Offensive
2 9.9

To scold someone angrily

is forceful but may be less focused on direct personal reprimand
to rip someone's head off
vsto rip into
  • Offensive
1 8.5

Shout at someone in a very angry way and threaten them

is vigorous criticism but not necessarily a loud, angry personal outburst
to lambaste
vsto rip into
1 8.0

To criticize someone or something very strongly in public

is similarly severe but not always focused on public exposure
to blaze away
vsto rip into
  • Informal
1 7.5

To speak angrily and strongly to criticize someone

focuses on forceful energy but is less emotional
to hit out at
vsto rip into
  • UK
1 6.7

To criticize someone or something strongly in public

focuses on force but not always delivered as a public speech
to throw brickbats
vsto rip into
  • Literature
8.9

Attack someone with strong words in public

is forceful but may not always aim to damage reputation publicly

Antonyms

to support
∞ 1.0

Give help to a person or idea

to defend
691 2.8

To speak up to support a person or idea when others criticize it

How Forceful

attack
548 3.2
to rip into
  • Informal
4 7.4
to tear into
  • Informal
4 7.4
to condemn
298 4.0
to criticize
701 3.3

Surface Forms

rip into infinitive
ripped into past
ripped into past participle
ripping into present participle
rips into third person singular

Morphology

rip + into

The meaning is a metaphorical extension of 'rip' (to tear/attack) combined with 'into' (direction toward a target), so a learner could infer a forceful, directed action but not necessarily the specific sense of verbal criticism. The informal, idiomatic nuance of 'attack someone verbally' is not fully predictable from the constituents alone, so partial exposure is usually needed.

Etymology

Rip into comes from a simple picture: rip means to tear and into means going inside, like someone tearing into a roast or parcel with force. That's why to rip into someone with words means 'to attack or criticize' them strongly.