roughshod

C1 Topic:Verbs of Movement

US /ˈɹʌfʃɑd/ UK /ˈɹʌfʃɒd/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

adj
acting without regard for others; inconsiderate or overbearing (chiefly in 'ride/run roughshod over')

He ran roughshod over their objections.
2

adj
(historical) shod with shoes having nail heads projecting to prevent slipping

The cavalry rode roughshod over the terrain.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · acting without regard for... overbearing tyrannical dictatorialhigh-handedinconsiderate

2 adj · (historical) shod with... hobnailed

More heedless reckless thoughtless careless

Opposites

considerate gentle deferential accommodating

Etymology

roughshod (Modern English); a compound of _rough_ ('having an uneven surface') and _shod_ ('wearing shoes'), originally describing a horse shod with projecting nail heads, later figuratively riding or acting with disregard for others.

External links

# roughshod

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈɹʌfʃɑd/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈɹʌfʃɒd/

## Meanings
1. acting without regard for others; inconsiderate or overbearing (chiefly in 'ride/run roughshod over')
2. (historical) shod with shoes having nail heads projecting to prevent slipping

## Examples
- He ran roughshod over their objections.
- The cavalry rode roughshod over the terrain.

## Synonyms
- overbearing
- tyrannical
- dictatorial
- high-handed
- inconsiderate
- heedless
- reckless
- thoughtless
- careless
- hobnailed

## Antonyms
- considerate
- gentle
- deferential
- accommodating

## Etymology
roughshod (Modern English); a compound of _rough_ ('having an uneven surface') and _shod_ ('wearing shoes'), originally describing a horse shod with projecting nail heads, later figuratively riding or acting with disregard for others.

## AI Etymology
Roughshod is modern English; a compound of rough ('having an uneven surface') and shod ('wearing shoes'), originally describing a horse shod with projecting nail heads, later figuratively riding or acting with disregard for others. In current use it is an adjective meaning "acting without regard for others; inconsiderate or overbearing (chiefly in 'ride/run roughshod over')". That sense is explained by the older material without requiring a speculative semantic step: the inherited or borrowed base supplies the field of meaning, while the English formation fixes its modern role. The surface form is compositional: its joined elements remain visible in the modern word. The semantic development is therefore important as well as the form: the word moves from the older concrete, technical, or literal setting into the present figurative or specialized sense.

## Topics
- Verbs of Movement
- Register & Style

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roughshod

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