English

Prepositional phrase

on a tear

1. (idiomatic) Engaged in a continuous, fast-paced procession of actions or events, especially with favorable results.
   • 1981 April 13, "Sport: Raging Bull of Basketball," Time (retrieved 28 Aug 2015):

     [T]he team was on a tear, having laid waste to three early round tournament opponents by a total victory margin of 82 points.

   • 2014 Nov. 7, Dan Hardy, "Michael Bisping analysis," Independent (UK) (retrieved 28 Aug 2015):

     To say he went on a tear after turning professional would be an understatement. He went fourteen fights without tasting defeat.

   • 2015 July 9, William D. Cohan, "The Bumbling, Irrelevant New York Stock Exchange," New York Times (retrieved 28 Aug 2015):

     [T]he market has been on a tear for more than six years and continues to trade near record highs.

2. (idiomatic) In or into a protracted state of agitation, fury, or zeal.
   • 2001 May 29, Thomas L. Friedman, "Foreign Affairs: 95 to 5," New York Times (retrieved 28 Aug 2015):

     Congress has been hopping mad and the U.N.-haters have been on a tear.

   • 2012 Sep. 27, Wesley Morris, "‘How to Survive a Plague’ looks back at AIDS activism’s power," Boston Globe (retrieved 28 Aug 2015):

     [W]hen the gay activist and playwright Larry Kramer goes on a tear, when he really lays into somebody about being politically lazy or not wearing a condom,. . . [y]ou hear rage.

Usage notes

• In the sense of "engaged in a fast-paced procession of actions", often used with reference to a series of successes in sporting competitions.

See also

• winning streak