tear off

Related to tear off: tearing apart

tear off

1. To pull or rip something off from a larger whole. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "tear" and "off." He tore off a lump of bread and used it to wipe the gravy off the plate. It felt like it was going to tear my arm off! Would you mind tearing off a piece of paper from your notebook for me to use in class?
2. To remove something with great haste. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "tear" and "off." He tore off his jeans when he realized a spider had crawled up the pant leg. I tore the cushions off the sofa to try to find my keys.
3. To leave or depart very quickly. The kids all tore off as soon as they heard the police car approaching. The motorcycle tore off down the street, ignoring stop signs and traffic lights on the way.
See also: off, tear
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

tear something off (of) someone or something

 and tear something off
to peel or rip something off someone or something. (Of is usually retained before pronouns.) Max tore the necklace off his victim and ran away with it. He tore off the necklace.
See also: off, tear

tear off (from someone or something)

to leave someone or something in a great hurry. I hate to tear off from you guys, but I'm late for dinner. It's time for me to go. I have to tear off.
See also: off, tear
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

tear off

1. Produce hurriedly and casually, as in He tore off a poem a day for an entire month.
2. Leave in a hurry, as in She tore off to the store because it was about to close. [c. 1900]
See also: off, tear
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

tear off

v.
1. To remove something by ripping or tearing: She reached for the gift and tore off the wrapping paper. He grasped the sales tag and tore it off.
2. To remove something quickly: I unbuttoned my jacket and tore it off. The feverish patient tore off the covers.
3. To leave or drive off rapidly: The painting crew tore off in their van.
4. To produce something hurriedly and casually: The new reporter tears off article after article.
See also: off, tear
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.

tear off

in. to break away; to run away. Don’t tear off without having some of my pie.
See also: off, tear
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • bite off
  • base off (of) (something else)
  • blow off
  • blow someone/something off
  • check off
  • blow off the map
  • brass off
  • brass someone off
  • brassed off
  • call off
References in periodicals archive
They are aimed mainly at businesses, with the slogan: "It's quick to stick." To back the campaign Royal Mail experts calculated that it takes 5.8 seconds to tear off an old style stamp, lick it and stick it on a letter.
DON'T LICK IT, STICK IT; New stamps are biggest change since post began