In the roughshod horny world of boys, I had studied my companions closely to make sure that I wasn’t being too “queer” for them.
having hooves shod with horseshoes that have projecting nails that prevent slipping
unjustly domineering; "incensed at the government's heavy-handed economic economic policies"; "a manager who rode roughshod over all opposition"
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering; "a barbarous crime"; "brutal beatings"; "cruel tortures"; "Stalin's roughshod treatment of the kulaks"; "a savage slap"; "vicious kicks"
{s} equipped with horseshoes that have metal points to prevent slipping (about horses)
disapproval If you say that someone is riding roughshod over a person or their views, you disapprove of them because they are using their power or authority to do what they want, completely ignoring that person's wishes. These laws allow the security forces to continue to ride roughshod over the human rights of the people. ride roughshod over sb/sth ; run roughshod over sb/sth to behave in a way that ignores other people's feelings or opinions