to place or press the foot on
informal to behave harshly or contemptuously towards
slang to adulterate drugs
informal to go more quickly, hurry up
adj. use of verb phrase step on
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
If the lines between lawn and bed are blurred or wobbly, use the step-on, half-moon edger in the worst spots to recut them cleanly.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 13, 2021
"Today was a massive step-on from our race in Belgrade three weeks ago."
From The Guardian ● May 27, 2012
Ricky once again cased in a step-on, step-off section, and Stewart went by him and into the lead.
From Time Magazine Archive
Voss continued to lead followed by Gibson, Rockstar Energy/Suzuki's Mike Brown moved into the lead after a few laps, but was passed by Gibson in the step-on step-off section.
From Time Magazine Archive
There is so much power in third gear that all you have to do is turn the throttle: no clutchwork is required at all, even on tricky step-on, step-off combinations with no take-off lip.
From Time Magazine Archive
Safety and soundness considerations required regulators to hit the brakes, while affordable-housing goals required them to step on the accelerator.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026
A city willing to step on its poets is one confident in its memory.
From Salon ● Jun. 23, 2026
The announcement represents one step on Amazon’s path to build a Starlink competitor.
From Barron's ● Jun. 9, 2026
He got the save, then took the win in stride in his first season playing high school baseball, explaining, “We know we’re supposed to win every time we step on the field.”
From Los Angeles Times ● May 31, 2026
Aunt Consuelo, holding a flashlight, whispered, “Come on. Your brother is up. Do not step on Esmeralda and Pascual when we come into the living room. We will eat when we get to the fields.”
From "Lupita Mañana" by Patricia Beatty
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.
