bulldozer
B2Neutral (everyday, journalistic, technical)
Definition
Meaning
A powerful tracked vehicle with a broad metal blade in front, used for pushing large quantities of earth, rubble, etc., especially in construction and demolition.
A person or organisation that acts in a forceful, insensitive, or uncompromising way to achieve their aims, often disregarding opposition or finer details.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term carries a primary concrete meaning (the machine) and a very common figurative/metaphorical meaning (the forceful person/entity). The verb form 'to bulldoze' is more frequent in figurative use.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. 'Bulldozer' is the standard term in both varieties. The related term 'dozer' is common in American technical/construction contexts.
Connotations
Identical connotations of power, force, and sometimes insensitivity in both varieties.
Frequency
Equal frequency in relevant contexts (construction, politics, business).
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The [Noun/Org] acted like a bulldozer[Subject] used a bulldozer to [Verb]A bulldozer [V-Past] through [Object]He's a real bulldozer in meetings.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “like a bulldozer through a china shop”
- “to bulldoze your way through something”
- “a bulldozer approach”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Describes a manager or CEO who imposes decisions without consultation. 'The new CEO was a bulldozer, implementing changes overnight.'
Academic
Used in political science or sociology to describe authoritarian policies or majoritarian rule. 'The bill was passed with a parliamentary bulldozer majority.'
Everyday
Refers to the construction machine or a very pushy person. 'They brought in bulldozers to clear the old car park.' / 'Don't be such a bulldozer; listen to others.'
Technical
Specific term in civil engineering and construction for a crawler tractor with a front blade.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The council plans to bulldoze the derelict theatre.
- He has a tendency to bulldoze through objections in meetings.
American English
- They bulldozed the old barn to build a garage.
- She bulldozed the legislation through committee.
adjective
British English
- He has a rather bulldozer management style.
- The project required a bulldozer approach to get approval.
American English
- Her bulldozer tactics alienated the team.
- It was a bulldozer campaign that ignored nuance.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- A big yellow bulldozer is working on the building site.
- The bulldozer pushed the dirt into a pile.
- They used a bulldozer to clear the land for the new houses.
- My boss is like a bulldozer; he never listens to other ideas.
- The developer bulldozed the historic wall despite local protests.
- His bulldozer mentality succeeded in the short term but damaged team morale.
- The government employed a legislative bulldozer to pass the controversial reforms, sidestepping detailed scrutiny.
- The metaphor of the bulldozer aptly describes the neo-colonial approach to resource extraction.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a BULL (strong, powerful) and DOZE (as in making things flat, like dozing off makes you lie down). A BULLDOZER is a powerful machine that flattens things.
Conceptual Metaphor
FORCEFUL ACTION IS BULLDOZING / A FORCEFUL PERSON IS A MACHINE
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating the figurative sense literally as 'бульдозер' for a person; it's understood but sounds odd. Use 'танк' or 'непробиваемый' metaphorically instead.
- The Russian technical term is identical ('бульдозер'), so the concrete meaning presents no trap.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'buldozer' (one L).
- Using 'bulldozer' as a verb (the verb is 'to bulldoze').
- Confusing with 'excavator' (which digs) or 'forklift'.
Practice
Quiz
In a figurative sense, calling someone a 'bulldozer' primarily suggests they are:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The primary verb form is 'to bulldoze'. 'Bulldozer' is a noun, though it can be used attributively (e.g., bulldozer tactics).
A bulldozer primarily pushes material horizontally with a large front blade. An excavator digs and lifts material with a bucket on a hydraulic arm.
Rarely. Even when admiring effectiveness, it implies a lack of subtlety or care. It is more often used critically.
Using 'bulldozer' as a verb instead of 'bulldoze' (e.g., 'He bulldozered the plan' is incorrect; 'He bulldozed the plan' is correct).