to destroy or badly damage something or someone by cutting or tearing it, him, or her many times

Our new kitten has torn the living room curtains to ribbons. 我们刚养的小猫把起居室的窗帘撕成了碎片。

figurative The attacking soldiers were cut to ribbons (= killed) by machine gun fire. 进攻的士兵被机枪打得血肉横飞。