ride roughshod over

1. 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

Critics say PSNs are being used for projects with minimal domestic benefit, including industrial zones managed by foreign companies, and allow developers to ride roughshod over environmental and rights protections.

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"Now, that's not to say that we should ride roughshod over the views of local people, and that's not to say that every project is justifiable," he said.

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Mr Mitchell said: "I have seen no compelling evidence of ravens killing healthy lambs. NatureScot cannot and must not ride roughshod over licensing rules to accommodate a few farmers."

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The UK's music industry isn't particularly well integrated with Europe, tending to ride roughshod over its less influential neighbours.

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In a press release afterwards, he accused the government of allowing Trump and Musk to "ride roughshod over UK interests".

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Related Words

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