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railroad

Definition

  • noun: a system of tracks on which trains travel
  • noun: a permanent road having a line of 'rails' fixed to ties and laid on a roadbed and providing a track for cars or equipment drawn by locomotives or propelled by self-contained motors
  • verb: to force (something) to be officially approved or accepted without much discussion or thought
  • verb: to convict with undue haste and by means of false charges or insufficient evidence
  • often used before another noun
  • synonyms: railway, rail, road

Examples

  • the history of 'railroading' [=of trains, railroads, the people who work on them, etc.]

  • He worked as a 'railroader' [=a person who works for a railroad company] all his life.

  • a controversial law that is being 'railroaded through' Congress

Movie clips

Movie quotes

  • (..) My, you're up mighty bright and early. - I been up since . Yes. I always get up at . It's in my blood. You see, my daddy was a railroad man till he got rich. Now he flies aeroplanes. One ofthese days... he'sjust gonna swoop down here at Maycomb... (..)
    1962 To Kill a Mockingbird
  • (..) Hush, Scout. What did I do? - Dill, this is Calpurnia. - Pleased to know you, Dill. Pleased to know you. My daddy owns the L&N railroad. He's gonna let me run the engine all the way to New Orleans. Is that so? He says I can invite anybody-- There goes the meanest man (..)
    1962 To Kill a Mockingbird