tear down
English
Pronunciation
Verb
tear down (third-person singular simple present tears down, present participle tearing down, simple past tore down, past participle torn down)
- (transitive) To demolish
- 1987 June 12, Ronald Reagan, Berlin Wall Speech[1]:
- General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization: Come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!
- (transitive, figurative) To degrade (someone), to discredit or criticize