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plough into

B1 neutral inseparable transitive
In simple words

To drive or run into something very hard, like a car hitting a wall, or to start something with a lot of energy.

Literal meaning: A plough driving forcefully into the ground.

Meanings

1 B1 neutral

To crash into something with great force, especially a vehicle hitting an obstacle or person.

"The out-of-control car ploughed into the shop front."

Grammar: inseparable
2 B2 idiomatic informal

To begin working on something with great energy and determination.

"She ploughed into the pile of paperwork on her first day back."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

Common in news reports about accidents ('a truck ploughed into a crowd'). Metaphorically used for starting work energetically ('plough into the task'). Chiefly British English.

Commonly used with

crowd wall barrier car task work

Forms

Base
plough into
I/you/we/they
3rd person
ploughs into
he/she/it
Past simple
ploughed into
yesterday
Past participle
ploughed into
have + pp
-ing form
ploughing into
continuous

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