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plow under

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plow something under (something)

to turn something under the surface of soil by plowing. The farmer plowed the wheat stubble under the surface of the soil. The farmer plowed the stubble under.

See also: plow

plow under

Cause to vanish, overwhelm, as in The independent bookstores are being plowed under by the large chains. This term alludes to the farmer's burying vegetation by turning it into the soil with a plow. [Second half of 1900s]

See also: plow

plow under

v.

1. To work something into the earth by turning up soil over it: Low grain prices have forced many farmers to plow their crops under. Many wetlands were plowed under to make more farmland.

2. To overwhelm someone or something: My teachers have plowed me under with work this week. We were plowed under with dirty laundry.

See also: plow