tatters
/ˈtætəz/ (bre, ipa) · [tˈætɚz] /ˈtætərz/ (ame, ipa) · [tˈætɚz] /ˈta-tər How to pronounce tatter (audio)/ (ame, mw)
tatters — noun
1. a state in which cloth, clothes, paper, or similar material is left hanging in m
a state in which cloth, clothes, paper, or similar material is left hanging in many torn strips after being badly ripped
After the puppy got into the laundry basket, the pillowcase was in tatters.
be in tatters: literal damage to cloth
By the end of the voyage, the sail hung in tatters above the deck.
hang in tatters: material left in strips
The old theatre poster was in tatters after months of rain on the wall.
Yuki pulled the sweater from the dryer and found one sleeve in tatters.
- intact
describes material that has not been torn or broken
文法句型
be in tatters
hang in tatters
用法筆記
Almost always appears in the phrase 'in tatters'. This sense describes the damaged condition of the material, not the separate pieces themselves.
常見錯誤
2. a state in which a plan, relationship, reputation, or other non-physical thing h
a state in which a plan, relationship, reputation, or other non-physical thing has been damaged so badly that it can hardly continue or recover
After the leaked messages, the mayor's reputation was in tatters across the city.
reputation in tatters: figurative ruin
Their travel plans were in tatters when the airline canceled every afternoon flight.
By noon, the merger deal lay in tatters after both banks walked away.
Sade felt her confidence in tatters after forgetting every line on stage.
- secure
suggests the plan or relationship is still stable
文法句型
be in tatters
lie in tatters
用法筆記
This sense is figurative: the subject is usually an abstract noun such as reputation, plan, marriage, or confidence. Distinguish from sense 1, where actual material is torn.
3. torn clothes or loose pieces of cloth, especially when they are all that remain
torn clothes or loose pieces of cloth, especially when they are all that remain of something once useful or fine
The museum displayed the explorer's coat as a few damp tatters.
tatters as the remaining scraps themselves
Children searched the attic and found wedding lace in dusty tatters.
After the fire, only charred tatters of the curtain remained.
Felipe wrapped the broken doll in soft tatters of old cotton.
文法句型
tatters of + noun
用法筆記
Less common than senses 1 and 2. This sense names the torn pieces themselves, often with 'of' plus the original material.
常見錯誤
tatters — verb
- tatterspresent simple I / you / we / they
- tatterses3rd person singular
- tattersing-ing form
- tattersedpast simple
1. to rip cloth or clothing so that it ends up hanging in rough, torn strips
to rip cloth or clothing so that it ends up hanging in rough, torn strips
The thorn fence tattered Nalia's skirt during the climb over it.
tatter + object: cloth damaged into strips
Years of salt wind tattered the fishing net beyond easy repair.
The puppy tattered the sofa cover while chasing the red ball.
Sharp branches tattered Omar's raincoat on the walk through the ravine.
- mend
means to repair the damaged material
文法句型
tatter + object
用法筆記
This sense takes a direct object and is uncommon in everyday speech. It appears mostly in descriptive or literary writing about cloth, flags, sails, and similar material.
常見錯誤
2. to grow torn and rough at the edges through long use, weather, or repeated damag
to grow torn and rough at the edges through long use, weather, or repeated damage
The prayer flags tattered in the mountain wind above the temple.
intransitive: material gradually becomes ragged
Cheap paper tattered quickly after a week in Mei's schoolbag.
Without a cover, the atlas tattered at the corners during summer camp.
The stage curtain tattered near the bottom after years of touring.
- hold up
means to remain in good condition
文法句型
tatter in + weather/place
tatter at + edge
用法筆記
Unlike sense 1, this sense has no object: the material itself becomes torn over time. It is also uncommon and mostly used in descriptive writing.