rip and tear adj.
(US Und.) unplanned, unsophisticated.
(con. 1905–25) Professional Thief (1956) 9: Other mobs use rip-and-tear (crude) methods that heat up (cause danger in) the spot. | ||
Big Stan 69: Glinka had pulled the thing off by using old tried-and-true rip-and-tear police methods. | [W.R. Burnett]||
Conant 83: These boys played very rough; rip and tear, old hoodlum style. |
In compounds
(Aus Und.) a pickpocket.
Argus (Melbourne) 31 Oct. 9/6: The ‘rip-and-tear man’ usually works with a ‘bumper-up’ - someone who bumps the victim off balance and distracts his attention while the pickpocket ‘lifts’ the ‘willy’ (wallet). Most pickpockets begin as‘bumpers-up’. |