Steamroll Someone Into Doing vs. Steamroll Someone To Do
Cambridge directly documents steamroller/steamroll someone into doing something for informal pressure or force that overcomes resistance. The cited entry directly supports the into + -ing construction; it does not establish steamroll + object + to-infinitive as an equivalent pattern for this meaning.
Use “steamroll someone into doing something” for the directly documented pattern; do not infer equal support for “steamroll someone to do.”
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / structure | Pattern | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| pressure or force someone past resistance into an action | steamroll + object + into + -ing | Use the directly documented informal construction. |
| other senses of steamroll/steamroller | follow the structure of that sense | Do not generalize one complement pattern to every use. |
| object + to-infinitive as an equivalent pressure construction | steamroll + object + to do | Do not infer equal support for this pattern. |
Quick tests
Pressure-construction test
Does the verb mean pressure or force a person or group into taking an action?
If yes: Use “steamroll + object + into + -ing.”
If no: Check the intended sense rather than forcing the into-pattern onto unrelated uses.
Caveat: The reviewed evidence directly supports the informal into + -ing construction and does not establish object + to-infinitive as its equivalent.
Examples
The chair tried to steamroll the committee into approving the motion.
The object is followed by “into” plus an -ing form in the pressure construction.
They felt steamrolled into accepting the revised schedule.
The passive form still keeps “into + -ing” for the pressured action.
For this pressure sense, use “steamroll someone into doing” rather than assuming “steamroll someone to do” is interchangeable.
The reviewed source licenses the into + -ing pattern.
Further guidance
Boundary
The cited entry directly supports the into + -ing construction; it does not establish steamroll + object + to-infinitive as an equivalent pattern for this meaning.
Construction
Cambridge directly documents steamroller/steamroll someone into doing something for informal pressure or force that overcomes resistance.
Decision
Use “steamroll someone into doing something” for the directly documented pattern; do not infer equal support for “steamroll someone to do.”
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- steamroller — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Dictionary construction steamroller/steamroll someone into doing something