General
tore up
What does tore up mean?
Emotionally distraught, or in ruined condition depending on context.
"She was all tore up over the news."
Origin
Southern figurative use of "torn up" for emotional distress or physical wreckage.
Frequently asked questions
What does "tore up" mean?
Depending on context, it means either very emotionally upset or physically wrecked and broken.
How can I tell which meaning is intended?
Context does it: "tore up over the news" is emotional distress, while "the road's all tore up" means physically damaged.
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Vocabulary Flow — saved to your collection.
