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walk all over

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walk all over someone or something

 

1. Lit. to tread on someone or something. Who walked all over the posters I had spread out on the floor? The rioters walked all over a child who had fallen in the confusion.

2. Fig. to treat someone or something very badly; to beat someone or something soundly in a competition. The prosecution walked all over the witness. The attorney walked all over my case.

See also: all, walk

walk all over somebody/something

1. to treat someone or something without respect You shouldn't let him walk all over you like that. This new law would walk all over our civil rights.

2. to defeat a person or team badly The Nighthawks walked all over the Tigers last night with a 5-0 victory.

See also: all, walk

walk all over

Also, walk over. Treat contemptuously, be overbearing and inconsiderate to, as in I don't know why she puts up with the way he walks all over her or Don't let those aggressive people in sales walk over you. This idiom transfers physically treading on someone to trampling on one's feelings. [Second half of 1800s]

See also: all, walk