ride roughshod over

Idioms and Phrases

Act without regard for the feelings or interests of others, as in She just forges on, riding roughshod over her colleagues . This term alludes to the practice of arming horses with horseshoes mounted with projecting nails or points, which both gave them better traction and served as a weapon against fallen enemy soldiers. By 1800 it was being used figuratively for bullying behavior.

Example Sentences

That was what I felt; to have his own way, the boss'd ride roughshod over us both, and he himself only—but that's tellings again.

From Project Gutenberg

If I leave you out, dear boy, there's not one of them that I care a hang about; I'd ride roughshod over the whole lot.

From Project Gutenberg

If people try and ride roughshod over me, I merely hit out, and then just look out for broken bones.

From Project Gutenberg

I clothed mine for nothing, and ever after they have tried to ride roughshod over me, and mutiny on every occasion!

From Project Gutenberg

In the absence of Futteh Khan, the Kuzzilbashes were suffered to ride roughshod over the people.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• crush
• encroach
• flatten
• hurt
• infringe
• injure
• override
• overwhelm
• run over
• squash
• step on
• stomp
• violate