rip up: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal to Neutral
Quick answer
What does “rip up” mean?
To tear something, especially paper or fabric, into pieces by pulling forcefully, often as a deliberate, destructive, or symbolic act.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To tear something, especially paper or fabric, into pieces by pulling forcefully, often as a deliberate, destructive, or symbolic act.
To cancel, revoke, or nullify an agreement, contract, or plan; to destroy or dismantle something immaterial.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Generally identical in core meaning and usage. 'Tear up' is a more common, less forceful synonym in both varieties.
Connotations
Slightly more vivid/physical in both. In business/political contexts, the metaphorical use is equally strong.
Frequency
Slightly less frequent than 'tear up' in everyday speech but common in journalistic and political discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “rip up” in a Sentence
[Subject] rip up [Object][Subject] rip [Object] up[Subject] rip it upVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “rip up” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The council plans to rip up the old tarmac.
- He ripped up the parking ticket in protest.
- The party is threatening to rip up the trade deal.
American English
- They had to rip up the contract after the scandal.
- She ripped up the map when she got lost.
- The mayor wants to rip up the city's zoning laws.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Metaphorical: 'The new CEO decided to rip up the old business model and start fresh.'
Academic
Rare in core academic writing; may appear in political science/history re: treaties.
Everyday
Literal: 'He was so angry, he ripped up the letter.' Metaphorical: 'They ripped up their holiday plans.'
Technical
In construction/demolition: 'They had to rip up the old flooring.'
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “rip up”
- Using 'rip up' for cutting with scissors (use 'cut up'). Forgetting the particle 'up' changes meaning ('rip' alone often means a long tear).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is a separable phrasal verb. You can say 'rip up the paper' or 'rip the paper up'.
'Rip up' often implies more force, violence, or finality. 'Tear up' is more common and can be softer. They are often interchangeable, but 'rip up' is stronger.
Not directly. You can't 'rip up' a feeling. But you can say something 'rips someone up inside', which is a different idiom meaning to cause great emotional distress.
Yes, metaphorically. A team might 'rip up the league table' by performing unexpectedly well, destroying the existing order. A player can 'rip up the pitch' with a great performance.
To tear something, especially paper or fabric, into pieces by pulling forcefully, often as a deliberate, destructive, or symbolic act.
Rip up is usually informal to neutral in register.
Rip up: in British English it is pronounced /ˌrɪp ˈʌp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌrɪp ˈʌp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “rip up the rulebook”
- “rip up the script”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine an angry person RIPping a piece of paper UP into the air. The action goes UP and apart.
Conceptual Metaphor
DESTRUCTION IS TEARING; CANCELLATION IS PHYSICAL DESTRUCTION.
Practice
Quiz
In a business context, 'to rip up a contract' most closely means: