tear down

1. (transitive)To demolish.

   They're going to tear down the old shack when they redevelop the land.

2. (transitive)To open and disassemble (a device or machine) to inspect, showcase, or refurbish its components.

   Top Fuel dragsters are sort of like fighter planes in the respect that the frequency with which their engines have to be torn down and rebuilt would be insanely unaffordable in any other context.

3. (figuratively, transitive)To degrade (someone): to discredit or criticize.

   If all you can offer is to tear down the efforts of all but the most precociously talented students, then maybe you're not cut out to be a primary school art teacher.

4. To move at high speed along.

1. Tears ran down my face.

   Сльози текли по моєму обличчю. — deniko

   ruСлезы текли по моему лицу. — Balamax

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2. We must tear down this house.

   ruМы должны снести этот дом. — sharptoothed

   deWir müssen dieses Haus abreißen. — Sudajaengi

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3. Please don't tear this house down.

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4. We're planning to tear down our house.

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5. I'm going to tear down this wall.

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irregular · Lesson

• tear offвідірвати, відірватисяTo rip away from; to pull a piece from forcibly.
• tear outприбрати, видалитиTo remove by tearing.
• tear awayвідірватися, відірватиTo remove (oneself or another person), overcoming that person's reluctance to be so removed.
• tear upTo tear into pieces.
• tear downTo demolish.
• tear intoTo subject to a heavy attack, physical or figurative.
• tear alongTo run quickly along somewhere.
• tear apartUsed other than figuratively or idiomatically: see tear, apart.