steamroller

Everyday

1. A heavy machine with big, wide rollers that flattens roads; once powered by steam, now usually by diesel (often called a road roller). tree →
2. (verb, informal) To force something through or defeat someone easily with great power, ignoring objections. tree →
3. (noun, figurative) A force that crushes all opposition. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life and children's books, steamrollers flatten new roads. In news and sport, a team «steamrollered» another means beat them easily; a leader «steamrollers» a plan through means forced it without listening.

Examples

• The steamroller flattened the new road. tree →
• The cartoon cat was squashed flat by a steamroller. tree →
• The team steamrollered their opponents 8–0. tree →
• The boss steamrollered the plan through the meeting. tree →
• Old steamrollers puff smoke at the vintage show. tree →
• We watched the steamroller go slowly back and forth. tree →

Note

Countable; one word. Past: steamrollered (or steamrolled in the USA). A modern machine is a road roller.