trample

trample (someone or something) to (something)

To cause someone or something to enter into some state or condition due to being trampled. Often used in passive constructions. Several tourists were trampled to death as the bulls stampeded through the city. The kids trampled the expensive vase to dust as they ran through the house.
See also: trample

trample down

To flatten and crush someone or something by walking or running on top of them or it. The bulls trampled several tourists down as they stampeded through the city. Make sure the kids don't trample down my flowers.
See also: down, trample

trample on (someone or something)

1. Literally, to walk or run over something, especially as to cause damage or injury. The panicked crowd trampled on the poor girl, resulting in numerous broken bones. The neighbors' dogs got into my studio and trampled on my latest painting.
2. To destroy, debase, or dismiss something through rough, abrasive, or insensitive treatment. The professor really trampled on my ambitions when she critiqued my thesis. Why do you feel the need to trample on these kids and their feelings like that?
See also: on, trample

trample out

To forge a pathway by walking on top of vegetation until it is permanently flattened or destroyed. The elephants have trampled out a path that they follow every single year. The kids have run back and forth between the two yards so frequently that they've trampled a little pathway out.
See also: out, trample

trample over (someone or something)

To walk or run over something, especially as to cause damage or injury. The panicked crowd trampled over the poor girl, resulting in numerous broken bones. The neighbors' dogs got into my studio and trampled all over my latest painting.
See also: over, trample

trample upon (someone or something)

Literally, to walk or run over something, especially as to cause damage or injury. The panicked crowd trampled upon the poor girl, resulting in numerous broken bones. The neighbors' dogs got into my studio and trampled upon my latest painting.
See also: trample, upon
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

trample someone or something down

to crush down someone or something with the feet. Stay out of crowds at rock concerts. Those kids will trample you down if they get excited. The cows trampled down the stalks of corn.
See also: down, trample

trample someone or something to something

to stomp or crush someone or something underfoot to the point of death or destruction. The elephant trampled the photographer to death. All the joggers trampled the grass to a muddy mess.
See also: trample

trample something out

to create a pathway by marching or stamping the same trail over and over. The mail carriers have trampled a path out through my marigolds! Jim trampled out a path in my garden.
See also: out, trample

trample (up)on someone or something

to crush someone or something underfoot. (Upon is formal and less commonly used than on.) Please don't trample upon the flowers! The bulls running through the streets trampled on some of the bystanders.
See also: on, trample
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

trample on

v.
1. To tread heavily or destructively on something: The children trampled on the flowers.
2. To inflict injury on something as if by treading heavily: Why do you trample on the feelings of those around you?
See also: on, trample
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • perceive
  • perceive (someone or something) as (something)
  • perceive as
  • preclude
  • preclude (someone or something) from (something)
  • preclude from
  • starve (someone or something) of (something)
  • starve of
  • sandwich (someone or something) between (someone or something else)
  • sandwich between
References in periodicals archive
The Warriors will trample the Tigerish tail And crush them - defeat them - to victory we'll sail!
Poem is a try by hopeful Warriors; RUGBY FINAL
If we are willing to trample on the basic safeguards afforded us by the Constitution and by the laws of this country, have we not then become the devil we had hoped to protect ourselves from?
Endangered liberty
As adaptable as squirrels, deer will jump fences, trample flowers, and even enter your house--all in search of a good meal.
Backyard Bandits Beware
What it eats would be far less than what it would trample over!
FM quotes from sangam era Tamil classic
For they can earn pounds 100 a night as high-heeled "trample hostesses" walking over male customers.
Join the sole club
Surely at some level, we remember the slights, we feel compassionately for other people, and become determined that no so-called "spiritual" leadership ought ever to be allowed to trample on it.
Compassion: key to being Canadian, Anglican
If this were only due to America trampling the rights of other nations by selfishly projecting its power, there would be an obvious antidote: trample less.
The new anti-Americanism: in Greece and around the world, they used to hate us for our policies. Now they hate us for our values
It is also an appeal to travel providers to "green up" operations so that "travel" doesn't have to mean "trample."
Travel, lite. (E Word)
The explosion of TWA Flight 800 has just given Clinton another excuse to trample on our rights.
Who needs proof?
Every month, loggers trample into Indonesia's rain forests and cut down acres of hardwood trees.
Rain forests: forests on fire
Now they're uncritical supporters of anticommunist jungle fighters who trample on human rights.
Destructive Generation: Second Thoughts About the Sixties
But surely no less arrogant are the people who climb his fences and gates, trample his land and even bring their dogs with them to frighten the sheep.
Voice Of The People: Don't walk this way, says Andy
They then had water buffalo and goats trample the "sites."
Water buffalo and goat hooves may have disturbed Indian Stone Age sites
"If bullocks or cows with young feel threatened by dogs they could charge and trample both pet and owner."
Livestock - watch out!