Tearing Up. EP 46

English from all angles! In this episode, Drew explains two interesting and very often used phrasal verbs: to tear up and to tear up. Yes, they’re spelled exactly the same, but they’re pronounced differently and one is a regular verb and the other is an irregular verb. When you get tears in your eyes because you’re experiencing strong emotions, you are tearing up. And when you destroy paper or fabric by pulling it into pieces, you are tearing it up. I did both when I received a very cruel letter from my (now) ex-girlfriend. First I teared up while reading it and then I tore it up.