mow down
Britishverb
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Destroy in great numbers, especially in battle, as in The machine gun mowed them down as they advanced . [Late 1500s]
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Overwhelm, as in He mowed down the opposition with his arguments . This usage, like the first, alludes to mowing , the cutting of grass with a scythe or other implement.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"But if there isn't this conversation and they are going to continue to mow down these efforts, it's really demoralising."
From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026
“They can mow down a kelp forest and then actually remain in that ecosystem without a food source,” said Prentice, a marine biologist and study co-author.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 4, 2025
The vehicle moved during the confrontation, police said, but Kahane is not accused of trying to mow down a group of protesters.
From Seattle Times • May 8, 2024
“The same as if you mow down grass in your front yard,” Dr. Shamon said.
From New York Times • Jan. 10, 2023
Pedaling down Maxwell Street, I took care to stay away from the hansom cabs and wagons that rushed through the road as though they were racing to see who could mow down the most pedestrians.
From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
