tear it up
B2 slang intransitive
In simple words
To do something really amazingly — like dancing, playing music, or playing sport better than everyone else.
Literal meaning: To physically rip 'it' (some object) to pieces — but idiomatically, the object 'it' is abstract.
Meanings
1 B2
idiomatic
slang
To perform brilliantly and with great energy, especially in music, sport, or dance.
"The band absolutely tore it up at the festival — everyone was on their feet."
2 C1
idiomatic
slang
To behave in a wild, uninhibited, or rebellious way.
"Back in his twenties, he was tearing it up at every party in the city."
Usage notes
Primarily used in informal and entertainment contexts — sports, music, dance. Common in American English. 'It' is fixed in this expression and refers to the activity at hand, not a specific object.
Commonly used with
dance floor court stage field game
Forms
Base
tear it up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
tears it up
he/she/it
Past simple
tore it up
yesterday
Past participle
torn it up
have + pp
-ing form
tearing it up
continuous
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Synonyms
kill it crush it nail it dominate light it up slay
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