1N-PLURAL [usually inNOUN]破烂衣服 Clothes that are in tatters are badly torn in several places, so that pieces can easily come off. 破烂衣服
His jersey was left in tatters.
他的运动衫已破烂不堪。
2N-PLURAL [usually inNOUN](计划、心情等)千疮百孔,历经挫折,不堪一击 If you say that something such as a plan or a person's state of mind is in tatters, you are emphasizing that it is weak, has suffered a lot of damage, and is likely to fail completely. (计划、心情等)千疮百孔,历经挫折,不堪一击 [emphasis]
VERB + TATTERS | PREPOSITION | PHRASESVERB + TATTERS➤lie in (figurative) 處於破碎狀態◇Her marriage now lay in tatters.她的婚姻現已破裂。➤hang in殘破地垂掛着◇Everywhere wallpaper hung in tatters.到處垂掛着破碎的壁紙。➤leave sth in (figurative) 使⋯破碎◇an injury that left his dreams in tatters令他夢想破滅的一次受傷PREPOSITION➤in tatters破爛不堪;被損壞◇Her clothes were in tatters.她衣衫襤褸。◇With their plans now in tatters, they gave up. (figurative) 如今計劃失敗,他們放棄了。PHRASES➤rags and tatters破爛兒