“Ride roughshod over someone” has a vivid literal origin. Roughshod originally described a horse fitted with rough horseshoes, shoes whose nail heads projected outward for extra grip. A horse wearing them could do real damage if it stepped on someone.
Because of that image, to ride roughshod over someone first suggested literal trampling. Over time, the phrase became figurative. Today it means treating people in a forceful, arrogant way, especially by ignoring their feelings, rights, or objections.
In modern use, the phrase usually appears in situations involving power:
- Politics: A government might ride roughshod over local concerns.
- Business: A company might ride roughshod over workers or residents.
- Personal life: Someone might ride roughshod over a friend’s wishes.
For example, The company rode roughshod over local residents during construction means it acted as if those residents did not matter. The horse image is old, but the idea of bullying or steamrolling others is still easy to recognize.