tearaway
[
tair
-
uh
-wey]
/ˈtɛər əˌweɪ/
adjective
1.
designed to be easily separated or opened by tearing:
a box with a tearaway seal.
noun
2.
British.
a wild, reckless person.
Origin
1825-35;
adj., noun use of verb phrase
tear away
British Dictionary definitions for
tear away
tear away
/
tɛə
/
verb
1.
(
transitive, adverb
) to persuade (oneself or someone else) to leave:
I couldn't tear myself away from the television
noun
2.
(
Brit
)
a reckless impetuous unruly person
(
as modifier
):
a tearaway young man
Idioms and Phrases with
tear away
tear away
Remove oneself unwillingly or reluctantly, as in
I couldn't tear myself away from that painting
.
[
Late 1700s
]