rip

Everyday

1. To rip is to tear something quickly and roughly: rip paper, rip your jeans. tree →
2. To rip off or out is to pull something away quickly. tree →
3. A rip is a long tear in cloth or paper. tree →
4. A rip (rip current) is a strong current flowing out to sea from a beach. tree →
5. RIP means «rest in peace», written on graves. tree →
6. In old dialect, to rip can mean to rage, rant and carry on loudly. tree →

In the lessons

In beach safety, a rip current pulls swimmers out to sea; swim between the red and yellow flags, and if caught in a rip, do not fight it — float, raise your hand for help, or swim sideways along the beach. In everyday life, «ripped jeans» have tears on purpose. Informal: «rip someone off» means cheat them by charging too much («a rip-off»). Phrases: «rip up», «let rip» (do something with full force).

Examples

• He ripped the paper in half. tree →
• I ripped my jeans on the fence. tree →
• There's a rip in my coat. tree →
• Swim between the flags to avoid rips. tree →
• If a rip pulls you out, float and raise your hand. tree →
• She ripped open the present. tree →
• That ticket price is a rip-off! tree →
• The gravestone said «RIP». tree →
• He rip en he ra'r, en he cuss, en he swar; he snort en he cavort." tree →

Note

Double p: ripped, ripping. A rip current is not a «riptide» in the scientific sense, though people often call it that; it is not caused by tides and does not pull you under — it pulls you out. «Rip» and «tear» mean nearly the same; rip is faster and rougher.

In Jewish tradition

In beach safety, a rip current pulls swimmers out to sea; swim between the red and yellow flags, and if caught in a rip, do not fight it — float, raise your hand for help, or swim sideways along the beach. In everyday life, «ripped jeans» have tears on purpose. Informal: «rip someone off» means cheat them by charging too much («a rip-off»). Phrases: «rip up», «let rip» (do something with full force).

Note

Double p: ripped, ripping. A rip current is not a «riptide» in the scientific sense, though people often call it that; it is not caused by tides and does not pull you under — it pulls you out. «Rip» and «tear» mean nearly the same; rip is faster and rougher.