TEAR UP

v. 1. To dig a hole in; remove the surface of; remove from the surface. The city tore up the street to lay a new water pipe. Mother tore up the carpeting in the living room and had a new rug put in. 2. To tear into pieces. Mary tore up the old sheets and made costumes for the play out of the pieces. John tore up his test paper so that his mother wouldn't see his low grade.