tore up
Busted, worn out, drunk, or emotionally wrecked, depending on context.
Also called torn up, all tore up.
Updated September 24, 2026
tore up pronunciation
/TOR up/
Meaning
Tore up is the country past participle of torn up, and it covers a lot of ground. A truck can be tore up after a ditch. You can be tore up after double shifts. You can get tore up on Saturday night. Somebody grieving hard is tore up too. Listen to the sentence and the meaning falls into place.
How folks use it
- “That old Ford's tore up and ain't worth fixing.”
- “He got tore up at the bonfire and slept in his truck.”
Origin and etymology
Spoken form of torn up that stuck in Southern and broader American slang. The literal damage sense came first. Tired, drunk, and heartbroken senses grew from the same idea of being wrecked.
Frequently asked questions
How do you know which meaning someone means?
Context. Talking about a machine means damaged. Talking about a party usually means drunk. Talking about a death or breakup means heartbroken.