tear up

“On the one-and-fortieth day, he said to his wife, “I have a mind to tear up the net and be quit of this life.””

The Book of The Thousand Nights And A Night

“For a few seconds he had the feeling that it was all a grotesque misunderstanding; he had an impulse to cross out his signature and to tear up the document; then everything came back to him again, he rubbed his pince-nez on his sleeve and handed the paper over the desk to Gletkin.”

Fictionaut: Autumn

“They admitted the bleomycin would tear up his lungs and that even if he recovered, he would likely never be able to race again.”

Simon & Schuster: LANCE ARMSTRONG

“But divil a bit will I let ye tear up my fine kitchen floor for the likes of a chicken.”

Simon & Schuster: Caddie Woodlawn’s Family

“Page 5Constitutional Amendment that would tear up the First”

Oral History Interview with Terry Sanford, December 18, 1990. Interview L-0050. Southern Oral History Program Collection (#4007)

“We then proceeded to destroy the bridge over Broad Run and Kettle Run and to tear up the railroad, burning the cross-ties and bending the rails by heating them.”

Lieutenant General Jubal Anderson Early C.S.A. : autobiographical sketch and narrative of the War between the States,

“As his secretaries would glance into his room, there they would see the Ambassador bending over his desk-writing, writing, eternally writing; sometimes he would call them in, and read what he had written, never hesitating to tear up the paper if their unfavourable criticisms seemed to him well taken.”

The Life and Letters of Walter H Page

“The children dassen't run around the house or tear up flowers or do anything.”

Hungry Hearts

“I got from her a description of ‘Merry Winkle’ and questioned her further for some minor detail of dress or person, but she had nothing else, and soon her eyes began to tear up again.”

The Beekeeper's Apprentice