tore someone a new one

A form of tear someone a new one — To express great anger toward (a person) for some perceived offence or shortcoming; to castigate.

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Meanings

verb
  1. pastsimple past of tear someone a new one
Cite this entry
APA

tore someone a new one. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tore%20someone%20a%20new%20one

MLA

“tore someone a new one.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tore%20someone%20a%20new%20one. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “tore someone a new one,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tore%20someone%20a%20new%20one.

Source: tore someone a new one on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.