rip it up

B2 informal intransitive

In simple words

To do something really impressively and with a lot of energy, OR to throw away old plans and begin again.

Literal meaning: To rip 'it' (an unspecified thing) into pieces — used idiomatically to mean destroying the old or performing wildly.

Meanings

1 B2 idiomatic slang

common

To perform with exceptional energy, skill, and excitement.

"The guitarist ripped it up at the festival — the crowd went wild."

2 B2 idiomatic informal

uncommon

To discard existing plans, rules, or a system and start completely from scratch.

"The new director decided to rip it up and completely redesign the curriculum."

"Rip It Up and Start Again."
— Simon Reynolds, book title, 2005; also 'Rip It Up' by Orange Juice (song, 1982)

Usage notes

The performance/energy sense is very common in youth and music culture — 'she ripped it up on stage'. The 'start fresh' sense is also common: 'let's rip it up and start again' (made famous by the Orange Juice song). 'It' is fixed — you cannot substitute another pronoun.

Commonly used with

stage dance floor pitch court plan rulebook

Forms

Base

rip it up

I/you/we/they

3rd person

rips it up

he/she/it

Past simple

riped it up

yesterday

Past participle

riped it up

have + pp

-ing form

riping it up

continuous

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