• to be on to sy, to bother, to vex
• to jag, to rend, rent, to tear, tore, torn
• to plough up, to tear up
• to jag, to tear, tore, torn
• discursive, intermittent, jerky, rugged, spasmodic, staccato
• to lacerate, to tear, tore, torn
• discursively, in a staccato voice, spasmodically, staccato
• broken line, pecked line
• choppy style, staccato style