in tatters
idiom
: clothes that are old and badly torn
They were dressed in tatters.
—often used figurativelyAfter the war, the economy was in tatters.
Her hopes lay in tatters.
Examples of in tatters in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Nearly a decade later, his finances are in tatters: Legal bills are piling up with interest accruing; the state of New York is threatening to seize some of his prime properties; and the stock of his Truth Social parent company is now in free fall.
—
Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 11 Apr. 2024
Perhaps his most stinging rejoinder in the era of Donald Trump is Our Flag (2017), which depicts Old Glory waving in tatters.
—Michael Slenske, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Apr. 2024
With his presidential hopes in tatters, Mr. Lieberman in 2008 attended the Republican National Convention and endorsed his friend, Senator John McCain of Arizona, for the presidency.
—Robert D. McFadden, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2024
Encampments, tents, tarpaulins, people in tatters staggering in the street.
—Mark Gozonsky, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2024
And yes: Seeing a recognizable USA in tatters and ruins, not to mention a tank menacingly loitering on Park Avenue, will indeed chill you to the bone.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 15 Mar. 2024
The economy, by most metrics Europe's weakest before the war, has been left in tatters.
—John Bacon, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2024
The conflict has also left the country’s infrastructure in tatters, exacerbated economic collapse and led to widespread displacement.
—Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN, 1 Feb. 2024
When the couple arrived in 1976, a half-finished renovation had left this room in tatters.
—Curbed, 17 Jan. 2024
Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 11 Apr. 2024
Perhaps his most stinging rejoinder in the era of Donald Trump is Our Flag (2017), which depicts Old Glory waving in tatters.
—Michael Slenske, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Apr. 2024
With his presidential hopes in tatters, Mr. Lieberman in 2008 attended the Republican National Convention and endorsed his friend, Senator John McCain of Arizona, for the presidency.
—Robert D. McFadden, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2024
Encampments, tents, tarpaulins, people in tatters staggering in the street.
—Mark Gozonsky, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2024
And yes: Seeing a recognizable USA in tatters and ruins, not to mention a tank menacingly loitering on Park Avenue, will indeed chill you to the bone.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 15 Mar. 2024
The economy, by most metrics Europe's weakest before the war, has been left in tatters.
—John Bacon, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2024
The conflict has also left the country’s infrastructure in tatters, exacerbated economic collapse and led to widespread displacement.
—Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN, 1 Feb. 2024
When the couple arrived in 1976, a half-finished renovation had left this room in tatters.
—Curbed, 17 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'in tatters.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near in tatters
Cite this Entry
“In tatters.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20tatters. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
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