rip down

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rip down

1. To rip or pull something down from a high surface or mount, especially in a violent, forceful manner. A noun or pronoun can be used between "rip" and "down." The warden went around ripping down pictures and posters hanging up in the prisoners' cells. He ripped Janet's picture down from the wall of his dorm room after she broke up with him.
2. To dismantle or disassemble a large object or structure. A noun or pronoun can be used between "rip" and "down." After the concert, we'll need everyone on hand to help rip down the set. I can't wait for them to finish the construction on our building so they can finally rip all this scaffolding down.
3. To demolish a large object or structure. A noun or pronoun can be used between "rip" and "down." I can't believe they haven't ripped that old building down yet. The group of protestors descended on the square and ripped down the statue of the dictator.
4. To deride, vilify, or excoriate someone. A noun or pronoun can be used between "rip" and "down." The director has long been a bully, ripping down those around him who would dare challenge his authority. I don't understand why she's always ripping me down in front of other people. She's so much nicer to me when we're on our own.
5. To travel down or along something very quickly. The kids ripped down the stairs to see what Santa Claus had brought them for Christmas. The motorcycle ripped down the street in an ostentatious display of speed and motor power.
See also: down, rip
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

rip something down

to tear something down. (Alludes to something that has been posted or mounted.) The custodian ripped all the posters down at the end of the day. He ripped down the posters.
See also: down, rip
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • rip out
  • yank apart
  • tore down
  • tear down
  • rip up
  • ripped up
  • tear from
  • tear from (someone or something)
  • rip away
  • tear someone up
References in periodicals archive
John Hatfield said he had to rip down a metal panel, above left, to get to his row's oxygen masks during an emergency landing
'The oxygen masks and air con failed...we wondered if we were going to suffocate'
Not only do they allegedly rip down hotel drapes and are then asked to leave, they then continue to annoy sleeping guests by serenading them with a drunken version of Pride of the Clyde.
Letter: Your view - Duo's comic capers
Mr Yaqoob, 36, was ordered to rip down his dream house after it was built without meeting all the conditions of the planning permission.
Court appeal to save pounds 1m Mirfield mansion
THE PAINSTAKING EFFORT TO RIP DOWN SADDAM'S PICTURE FROM EVERY SURFACE IS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE!
Troubletown: finally the good news
COUNCILLORS of all political parties have joined forces to rip down racist posters which have been put up in Coventry.
Councillors rip up racist posters
They came as a rip down the front of a blouse, or a slash up the back of a boot, creating a raunchy rather than romantic effect.
Fame in a name is the game for a fashion house
A BUSINESSMAN was yesterday told by a judge to rip down a hillside home he built without planning permission.
HILLTOP CHALET MUST COME DOWN
They want to rip down the Victorian houses - many of which are crumbling beyond repair - and build new houses and flats.
WE'LLFIGHTTHREATTO BULLDOZE OUR HOMES; Homeowners vow to oppose council plans
Another added: "People did rip down trees and fences to make fires and there was one load of mess when the sun started going down, so God knows what it must have been like the next morning."
Poster campaign to bring home party outrage to students
The deadline means workers have a race against time to rip down the steel frame, fill in cellars dug below the structure and even turf over the area.
THE LAST CHAPTER
NOW Christmas is properly over, we can't wait to rip down the decorations and bundle the cards up into the recycling bin.
Viva!: The Viva! girls love . . . TLC for our faces, recycling the Christmas decorations and body chocolate
It's a pity the Cardiff planners are so obsessed with allowing people to rip down the old and put up the new.
History lost in the name of progress
"Demolition" is billed as a campaign to find and rip down Britain's worst building and viewers are invited to vote for a contender which "`you really hate or makes your life a misery".
THE POACHER: DEMOLITION DERBY
I HAVE been following the Grosvenor deba te for some time now, especially the future of Quiggins, and I think it's pretty ironic for Liverpool and the people of the city,after being named Capital of Culture, to rip down the very estab - lishments that helped Liverpool get the title.
Letter: Compromise
The Quiggins establishment is seemingly on the media front line and I think it's pretty ironic for Liverpool and its people after being rewarded the city of culture 2008 to go and rip down the very establishments that helped it get that prestigious award.
You say: Make a stand