step on

step on — phrasal verb

  • step onbase form
  • steps on3rd person singular
  • stepping on-ing form
  • stepped onpast simple

1. to treat someone in a harsh or unfair way, especially by ignoring their feelings

1.片語動詞及物B2
釋義

to treat someone in a harsh or unfair way, especially by ignoring their feelings or using their work for your own benefit without giving them credit.

例句

The new manager stepped on the junior staff by taking credit for their ideas.

step on + [person] + by + [action]

Meera felt her brother stepped on her wishes when the family picked a vacation spot.

同義詞
  • put down

    more general — can mean criticising, not necessarily using someone's work

  • walk all over

    stronger and more colloquial; implies repeated or ongoing mistreatment

  • trample on

    more formal and dramatic; suggests a complete disregard for someone's rights

反義詞
  • support

    opposite in attitude — helping rather than hindering

  • stand up for

    the action of defending someone from being stepped on

文法句型

step on + person/group

get stepped on (passive)

用法筆記

Common in workplace and relationship contexts. Frequently appears in the pattern 'step on + someone + by V-ing' to describe the unfair action. The passive form 'get stepped on' is common in informal speech.

常見錯誤

The manager stepped on the report.
The manager stepped on the team by ignoring their input.
💡'step on' takes a person or group as its object, not a thing.
She stepped on his foot.
She stepped on him during the project by taking all the credit.
💡The literal meaning (putting your foot on someone's foot) is a different verb sense.