ENGLISH
REFERENCE

rip into

idiom
Meaning

To verbally attack or criticise.


Examples
SIMPLE

My boss will rip into me if I am late again.

CONTEXTUAL

After the team lost the game, the coach ripped into the players for their lack of effort.

COMPLEX

The critic ripped into the author's latest novel, describing the plot as both derivative and entirely devoid of emotional depth.

Anchors to
Related idioms7entries
  1. 01

    give a rip

    To care.

  2. 02

    rip it up

    To perform spectacularly.

  3. 03

    rip off the band-aid

    To perform a painful or unpleasant, but necessary, action quickly so as to minimize the pain or fear associated with it.

  4. 04

    rip off the bandage

    To deal with a difficult situation by sudden difficult action.

  5. 05

    rip someone's face off

    To castigate someone very angrily.

  6. 06

    rip someone's head off

    To castigate someone very angrily.

  7. 07

    rip to shreds

    To criticize severely; to refute.

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