rend one's garments: meaning & examples

Meanings:

• 1.

  Globalarchaicbiblicalliterary
  • To tear one's clothing as an outward sign of extreme grief, mourning, shock, or contrition, as prescribed in some traditional or scriptural contexts.

  Examples

  Beta

  • When John heard the tragic news, he began to rend his garments in deep sorrow.

    When John heard the tragic news, he began to rend his garments in deep sorrow.

  • The prophet was described as rending his garments upon witnessing the destruction of the city.

    The prophet was described as rending his garments upon witnessing the destruction of the city.

  • In the ancient ritual, mourners would rend their garments to show their grief openly.

    In the ancient ritual, mourners would rend their garments to show their grief openly.

• 2.

  Globalfigurativeliterary
  • To express intense sorrow, anguish, or outrage, often in an emphatic or demonstrative manner; used metaphorically without literal tearing of clothes.

  Examples

  Beta

  • After the scandal was revealed, the politician rended his garments figuratively, expressing his outrage in the press.

    After the scandal was revealed, the politician rended his garments figuratively, expressing his outrage in the press.

  • She didn't literally rend her garments, but her speech conveyed the anguish she felt about the betrayal.

    She didn't literally rend her garments, but her speech conveyed the anguish she felt about the betrayal.

  • The community leader rended his garments over the injustice, calling for immediate reform.

    The community leader rended his garments over the injustice, calling for immediate reform.