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.

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.

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.

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