Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to steamroll the discussion

to steamroll the discussion

8.7
To take control of a discussion and ignore other people's ideas
  • phrasal verb
  • /ˈstiːmroʊl ðə dɪsˈkʌʃən/
  • Informal
translation icon : dominar la discusión
  • During meetings, he often tries to steamroll the discussion instead of listening to different viewpoints.

Examples

  • She accused her colleague of steamrolling the discussion on every key issue.

  • It's important not to steamroll the discussion if you want everyone to feel heard.

  • Don't steamroll the discussion like that!

  • She always steamrolls the discussion during meetings.

  • During meetings, he often tries to steamroll the discussion, ignoring the opinions of others.

  • It's crucial for a good team dynamic not to steamroll the discussion and allow everyone to share their thoughts.

  • She consistently steamrolls the discussion, making it hard for her colleagues to contribute.

Synonyms

to dominate the discussion
vsto steamroll the discussion
1 4.8

To take control of a conversation and leave little room for others to speak

is more forceful and overbearing, often ignoring others' contributions
to overtalk
vsto steamroll the discussion
1 6.4

To talk so much that you stop others from speaking

is more forceful, silencing others and ignoring their contributions
to talk under the table
vsto steamroll the discussion
  • Informal
9.6

To speak more and make others stop talking

is pushier and ignores others rather than just out-speaking them

Antonyms

to listen
∞ 1.0

Pay attention to sounds or speech to hear and understand them

to share
∞ 1.0

To let other people use or have part of something

How Dominant

to steamroll the discussion
  • Informal
8.7
to monopolize
  • US
22 6.7
to dominate
48 3.7
to interrupt
909 2.5

Surface Forms

steamroll the discussion infinitive
steamrolled the discussion past
steamrolled the discussion past participle
steamrolling the discussion present participle
steamrolls the discussion third person singular

Morphology

steamroll + the + discussion

The verb is a metaphorical extension of the idea of a steamroller flattening obstacles, so applied to 'discussion' it conveys overwhelming or dominating the conversation — a relation that is partially inferable from the image. However, the specific sense ('override others' contributions') is not strictly compositional from 'steam' + 'roll' and requires metaphorical/world knowledge, so it is not fully transparent for a B1 learner.

Etymology

Steamroll the discussion comes from a large road machine called a steamroller, which used steam and heavy wheels to roll and flatten the road. That picture of something pushing everything flat is why the phrase means 'to dominate a conversation' and ignore other people's ideas.