in tatters

phrase

: clothes that are old and badly torn

They were dressed in tatters.

—often used figuratively

After the war, the economy was in tatters.

Her hopes lay in tatters.

Examples of in tatters in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Filming has now begun on location in Malta, with Winstone starring as Alan ‘Razor’ Sharp, a former SAS operative haunted by a botched mission in the 1990s that left his reputation in tatters and his best friend dead. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 1 Sep. 2026

The six-part series sees Winstone play Razor, a former SAS operative haunted by a botched mission in the ‘90s that left his reputation in tatters and his best friend dead. — Alex Ritman, Variety, 1 Sep. 2026

Most obviously, if IBM is so innovative, why have its own blockchain efforts proven a bust, and why is its broader business strategy in tatters? — Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 3 Aug. 2026

The economy is in tatters, and food insecurity is widespread. — Cameron Pugh, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Aug. 2026

Rhymes for in tatters

• batters
• chatters
• flatters
• hatters
• matters
• platters
• satyrs
• scatters
• shatters
• tatars