shot to ribbons

shoot to ribbons

To shoot something multiple times and thus break it into pieces or destroy it. A noun or pronoun is used between "shoot" and "to ribbons." The gangsters shot the poor man to ribbons right on the doorstep of his house. Rebel soldiers shot the government building to ribbons during their attack.
See also: ribbon, shoot

shot to ribbons

Shot multiple times and thus broken into pieces or destroyed. Police found the gangster shot to ribbons. My car was parked outside of the bank during the robbery, and it ended up shot to ribbons during the ensuing gunfight with police.
See also: ribbon, shot
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • shoot to ribbons
  • shoot to pieces
  • shot to pieces
  • shot full of holes
  • shoot full of holes
  • shoot down
  • shoot down, to
  • shoot off
  • seek out
  • shoot (one's) breakfast
References in periodicals archive
Their defence is shot to ribbons and they lack penetration in attack.
Disillusioned Giants fan I aM [...]
"There is no doubt that the myth of 'these are the games we can win, these are the games we can't win' has been shot to ribbons.
English lessons vital for imports says Roy
She has a good job in local government and her reputation will be shot to ribbons if it gets in the newspapers.
Your Life: Dear Miriam - Girlfriend can't stop stealing; ADVICE HEALTH
If only someone had told Dunfermline to stay the hell out of Dodge there would have been no casualties at all but the Fifers strayed almost unsuspectingly into the OK Corral and were shot to ribbons in the cross-fire.
FOOTBALL: This town IS big enough for both of them; CELTIC .......... 5 DUNFERMLINE ........... 0