steamroller
/ˈstiːmrəʊlə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · [stˈimrˌolɚ] /ˈstiːmrəʊlər/ (ame, ipa) · [stˈimrˌolɚ] /ˈstēm-ˌrō-lər How to pronounce steamroller (audio)/ (ame, mw) · /ˈstiːmˌrəʊ.lər/ (bre, ipa) · [stˈimrˌolɚ] /ˈstiːmˌroʊ.lɚ/ (ame, ipa)
steamroller — noun
- steamrollersingular
- steamrollersplural
1. a heavy road machine with a wide metal drum that rolls over fresh asphalt or gra
a heavy road machine with a wide metal drum that rolls over fresh asphalt or gravel to leave the surface level and smooth.
Workers sent the steamroller over the wet asphalt before reopening the lane.
steamroller + over fresh asphalt
Hao watched the steamroller flatten the new path through the park.
After the gravel was spread, the steamroller moved back and forth all morning.
The driver parked the steamroller beside the bridge when the rain began.
- road roller
the more exact modern term for this construction vehicle
- roller
a shorter word that depends on context to show it means the road machine
- compactor
a broader construction term for machines that press material down
用法筆記
In everyday modern English, people often call any heavy road roller a steamroller, even when the machine is not powered by steam.
常見錯誤
2. a person, group, or influence that gets its way by crushing resistance and leavi
a person, group, or influence that gets its way by crushing resistance and leaving little room for opposition.
With its huge majority, the party became a steamroller in parliament.
steamroller in politics
The chain store was a steamroller that pushed small shops off the street.
Parents saw the reform plan as a steamroller that would silence local schools.
Omar called the merger a steamroller that ignored every warning sign.
- juggernaut
stresses huge size and unstoppable power, often of an organization or movement
- bully
usually names an aggressive person, not a large system or campaign
- machine
in politics, it can mean an organized group that drives results through
- underdog
someone or something with less power rather than overwhelming force
- consensus-builder
wins support by agreement instead of crushing objections
用法筆記
This sense is common in politics, business, and public debate. Distinguish it from sense 1, which names the literal road machine.
常見錯誤
steamroller — verb
- steamrollerpresent simple I / you / we / they
- steamrollers3rd person singular
- steamrollering-ing form
- steamrolleredpast simple
1. to drive people, objections, or plans forward with so much pressure that resista
to drive people, objections, or plans forward with so much pressure that resistance cannot stop them.
The minister steamrollered the bill through committee before reporters arrived.
steamroller + bill + through
Ayana refused to let the director steamroller the staff into dropping the complaint.
steamroller + people + into + -ing
Vivek tried to steamroller through the agenda, but the chair paused the meeting.
Union leaders accused the company of steamrollering safety changes through overnight.
- bulldoze
very close in meaning, often with the same image of heavy force
- ram through
focuses especially on forcing a proposal or decision ahead despite objections
- strong-arm
highlights intimidating pressure on people more than forcing a plan through a process
文法句型
steamroller + bill/plan/change + through
steamroller + person/group + into + -ing
steamroller through + opposition/agenda
用法筆記
Use through when something is forced past opposition, and into + -ing when people are pressured to act. The tone is much harsher than persuade or speed up.