What are the definitions of “plough through”?
Learn how to use these expressions through these examples
- 1Eat a big meal.
We PLOUGHED THROUGH all seven courses.
- 2Read something that is difficult or takes a lot of time.
It took me ages to PLOUGH THROUGH' Ulysses'.
- 3Move through somewhere where there is little space or there are obstacles.
The boat had to PLOUGH THROUGH the ice.
What’s the most common meaning of the phrasal verb “plough through”?
The most common meaning of the phrasal verb plough through is to work through something that is difficult or takes a lot of time, such as reading a long book or completing a challenging task. It can also mean to eat a big meal or to move through a place with little space or obstacles.
What are the different verb forms of “plough through”?
| Root Verb | plough through |
| Third Person Singular Present | ploughs through |
| Present Participle | ploughing through |
| Simple Past | ploughed through |
| Past Participle | ploughed through |
Example
I need to plough through this report before the meeting.
Example
She ploughs through her homework every night.
Example
He is ploughing through the book to finish it before the deadline.
Example
We ploughed through the snow to reach the cabin.
Example
They had ploughed through all the obstacles to achieve their goal.
What kind of phrasal verb is “plough through”?
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a transitive and intransitive verb? - A transitive verb always has an object after it. (Example: Sam bought a car.) - An intransitive verb never has an object.(Example: She laughed loudly.)
Transitive verb
“plough through” is a transitive phrasal verb because it requires a direct object to complete its meaning. The direct object specifies what is being removed, obtained, or eliminated.
Example
She ploughed through the difficult book.
Example
He ploughed through the seven-course meal.
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a separable and inseparable phrasal verb? - A “separable phrasal verb” can be separated with an object between the verb and particle. - An “inseparable phrasal verb” cannot be separated by an object.
Inseparable
“plough through” is an inseparable phrasal verb. This means that you can’t place an object between the verb and the particle, otherwise, it changes the meaning of the phrasal verb.
Example
She ploughed through the difficult book.
Example
He ploughed through the seven-course meal.
What are common phrases and expressions that include the phrasal verb “plough through”?
Good things to know
Does “plough through” have an informal or formal tone?
Plough through is a neutral to informal phrasal verb. It is commonly used in everyday conversations and can be used in more formal settings depending on the context. However, in most cases, plough through is considered an informal phrasal verb used in everyday speech.
