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Glite Dictionary
to plough one's way through

to plough one's way through

1 7.4
To move forward with difficulty through people or things with effort
  • phrasal verb
  • /plaʊ wʌnz weɪ θru/
  • UK
translation icon : abrirse camino
  • He had to plough his way through the thick snow.

Examples

  • It took her an hour to plough her way through the long and complicated legal documents.

  • After the concert, I had to plough my way through a sea of fans to reach the exit.

  • He ploughed his way through the dense undergrowth to reach the clearing.

  • I need to plough my way through this traffic!

  • Despite the crowd, she managed to plough her way through the market to find her friends.

  • He had to plough his way through the thick snow to reach his house after the storm.

  • The soldiers had to plough their way through the dense jungle to complete their mission.

Synonyms

to move through
vsto plough one's way through
80 2.1

Pass from one point to another during a journey or process

is about difficult, effortful progress through resistance rather than ordinary passage
to plow
vsto plough one's way through
  • US
50 2.8

To move forward through a crowd or heavy mud using force

applies to moving through people or obstacles rather than through solid material
to break through
vsto plough one's way through
43 3.7

To move suddenly through a barrier, as light or a person

is about steady physical effort to move among resistance rather than sudden entry
to push through
vsto plough one's way through
39 3.6

To keep going despite problems until you finish

is physical movement through obstacles using bodily effort rather than abstract perseverance
to get by
vsto plough one's way through
14 3.2

Move past someone to go in front

is about forcing progress through obstacles rather than merely passing someone
to pass through
vsto plough one's way through
  • Jargon
14 5.2

To move across an enemy line to reach the other side

is used for military crossing of hostile lines rather than civilian obstacle movement
to push forward
vsto plough one's way through
6 3.6

To move ahead by pushing people or things out of the way

stresses difficult forward progress through resistance rather than mere forceful advance
to edge in
vsto plough one's way through
5 5.3

To move slowly and carefully into a small space or group

involves forceful effort to get through a crowd rather than gentle entry
to push one's way through
vsto plough one's way through
4 3.9

Move forward by getting past people or things blocking the way

is used for moving forward through obstacles with sustained effort
to bushwhack
vsto plough one's way through
  • Informal
1 8.6

To make a path through thick bushes by cutting or pushing them aside

is used for moving through crowds or obstacles, not primarily wooded areas
to plod through
vsto plough one's way through
1 5.6

To work slowly and steadily through a task despite finding it hard

is physical movement through obstacles using force rather than slow task progress
to push one's way past
vsto plough one's way through
  • Informal
5.6

Move forward through a crowd by forcing people aside with your body

is more about moving forward through obstacles rather than only passing by
to bullrush through
vsto plough one's way through
  • UK
8.9

Move quickly through a crowd while pushing people aside

is about slower, effortful progress through obstacles rather than rapid charging
to thrust ahead
vsto plough one's way through
5.7

To push forward through a crowd to get ahead

focuses on steady effort to get through resistance rather than sudden surges

Antonyms

stop
310 1.0

An act when something ends or pauses

retreat
93 4.4

A move back from a place to escape danger

How Difficult

battle
805 3.3
to plough one's way through
  • UK
1 7.4
to pass through
  • Jargon
14 5.2
to walk through
  • Informal
18 4.0

Surface Forms

plough one's way through infinitive
ploughing one's way through present participle
ploughs one's way through third person singular
ploughed one's way through past
ploughed one's way through past participle

Morphology

plow + one's + way + through

The meaning is directly derivable from the parts: 'plough' (to force or advance), 'one's way' (one's route), and 'through' (moving across), which together describe forcing a route forward through an obstacle. This motion/manner + path composition is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents will readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

The phrasal verb plough one's way through comes from farming: the tool plough cuts hard soil to make a way forward, forcing a path through the earth. So the phrase means 'to move forward with difficulty', like pushing through a crowd, thick plants, or long documents.