From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishsmash/rip/tear something to piecessmash/rip/tear something to piecesDAMAGEto damage something badly by breaking it into many parts His arm was ripped to pieces by a shark. Wear thick gloves, otherwise you’ll tear your fingers to pieces. → piece
Examples from the Corpus
smash/rip/tear something to pieces• I had been given the power to obliterate, to steal a body from its grave and tear it to pieces.• And having got under them, he can't half tear them to pieces.• He was thrown from his chariot and his horses tore him to pieces and devoured him.• Telling me the strangest things sometimes, evil things - till I want to shout out or smash them to pieces.• We are lost, for they will surely tear us to pieces with their sharp claws.• If Hyde returns while I am writing this confession, he will tear it to pieces to annoy me.• Brandon Thomas opted to unveil his Aunt away from London fearful that the capital's theatre critics would tear it to pieces. 