Rick Atkinson

That was a pretty fine Army that we had in 1965. By 1973, it was in tatters. It was a disgrace to the country and to itself, to its own heritage, really. So it's, you know, the Army belongs to all 307 million of us. It is our common possession, it's our common heritage. As goes the Army, so goes the republic.

American Author

James Fenimore Cooper

Slavery is no more sinful, by the Christian code, than it is sinful to wear a whole coat, while another is in tatters, to eat a better meal than a neighbor, or otherwise to enjoy ease and plenty, while our fellow creatures are suffering and in want.

American Writer

Liz Truss

Labour want to control all parts of the economy and society so that they can pursue the politics of envy. It would leave us all paying higher taxes and the economy in tatters.

British Politician

Leon Kass

It's very hard to make arguments about the effects of cloning on family relations if family relations are in tatters.

American Educator

Cody Fern

When I read the script for 'War Horse,' I was in absolute tatters.

Australian Actor

Refers to actual physical pieces, often from something once whole that's severely damaged.

Literal Shreds

Conjures a strong visual of something ripped or worn, emphasizing its ruined state.

Visual Imagery

Can be used metaphorically to describe non-physical things that are ruined, like 'dreams in tatters.'

Metaphor Potential

Describes a situation that is thoroughly ruined, beyond simple repair or recovery.

State of Ruin

Evokes strong feelings such as sympathy or shock when describing someone's dire situation.

Emotional Impact

Despite similar usage to the first definition, here it's often not describing physical objects.

Not Literal

 in what is today Israel, on the Mediterranean Sea. But today the Hejaz Railway lies in tatters, ruins. If we were to focus on reconstructing these curvy lines on the map, infrastructure, that cross the straight lines, the borders, I believe the Middle East would be a far more peaceful region. Now let's look at another part of the world,

Parag Khanna maps the...

 one image shows a young black child who is working as a shoe shine boy with a shirt and tatters others show children along beelan street an area that was largely destroyed by landslides a climate challenge pittsburgh still navigates just a decade later seeing these photos of pittsburgh helps me appreciate how far things have

Greening of Pittsburgh PIPE...

 would be simply unstoppable if this was a real seal right now it would be in tatters this is a devastating predatory technique the shark's eyes pressure and electrical sensors and lock on to its

Tatters