push

push1 [ puʃ ] verb ***

▸ 1 move someone/something away

▸ 2 press button on machine

▸ 3 move through group

▸ 4 encourage/force someone

▸ 5 try to sell something

▸ 6 make something reach level

▸ 7 sell illegal drugs

▸ 8 make impatient/annoyed

▸ 9 when army moves

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) intransitive or transitive to move someone or something away from you, or from their previous position, using part of your body, especially your hands:

Push as hard as you can.

push something around: He was pushing a cart around the supermarket.

push someone/something away: She gently pushed him away.

push something open/shut: I pushed the door open with my foot.

push at: He pushed at a door in the courtyard.

push someone/something into someone/something: Rebecca pushed her handkerchief into her pocket.

push someone/something against someone/something: The table had been pushed against the wall.

─ opposite PULL

2. ) intransitive or transitive to press a button on a machine:

To turn on the television, you push this button.

3. ) intransitive or transitive to move past or through a group of people or things by using a part of your body to move them away from you:

Stop pushing and just wait your turn.

Pushing to the front of the line, he managed to get the last tickets.

push past: He just pushed past Fred and left.

push your way through: I was pushing my way through the crowd.

push and shove: People were pushing and shoving, trying to get to the best seats first.

4. ) transitive to encourage or force someone in a determined way to do something they do not want to do:

push someone to do something: The United States pushed NATO to authorize military intervention.

push someone into (doing) something: The police pushed her into giving evidence.

a ) to force someone to make a great effort, especially at school or in their career:

A lot of parents push their children, but my dad always just encourages and supports me.

5. ) transitive INFORMAL to try to make people buy a product or accept an idea: PROMOTE:

He saw the interview as an opportunity to push his latest movie.

6. ) transitive push something up/down/into/toward to make something reach a particular level or standard:

The Fed had pushed up interest rates sharply to protect the dollar from speculators.

The strong sunshine had pushed temperatures into the nineties.

7. ) transitive INFORMAL to sell illegal drugs

8. ) transitive to make someone impatient or annoyed by behaving in an unreasonable way:

If you push him too far, he'll resign.

9. ) intransitive if an army pushes into, through, or across a country or area, it moves farther into, through, or across it, using force:

Government troops pushed into the northern sector.

be pushing thirty/forty/fifty etc. INFORMAL

to be nearly a particular age

push someone/something from your mind or push someone/something to the back of your mind

to avoid thinking about someone or something:

Lucy pushed the idea firmly to the back of her mind.

He pushed her completely from his mind.

push it/push your luck INFORMAL

to take a big risk by doing something that is likely to cause you trouble:

I think you're pushing your luck in asking for another pay raise.

=> DAISY

,push a`head or push forward phrasal verb intransitive

to continue trying to achieve something despite opposition or difficulties:

push ahead with: They are pushing ahead with plans to expand production.

,push a`round phrasal verb transitive INFORMAL

push someone around to keep telling someone what to do in an unfair and unpleasant way:

They're always pushing me around.

,push a`side phrasal verb transitive

to refuse to think about something unpleasant:

She pushed her doubts aside and carried on.

,push `back phrasal verb transitive

to arrange a later time for something:

The deadline has been pushed back two weeks.

push something back to/until something: Can I push our meeting back to May 27?

push back the limits/frontiers

to discover new things about something or a better way of doing it:

We're pushing back the frontiers of technology.

`push for phrasal verb transitive

1. ) push for something to try hard to get or achieve something:

They continue to push for more pay.

We are pushing for a ban on nuclear testing.

2. ) push someone for something to try to make someone give you something or do something for you:

He's pushing us for a decision by tomorrow.

,push `forward phrasal verb

1. ) intransitive same as PUSH AHEAD:

push forward with: They were urged to push forward with their reforms.

2. ) intransitive to move farther toward a place in a determined way, or despite opposition or difficulties:

John pushed forward into the dark entrance of the cave.

3. ) transitive to try to make people recognize someone's qualities or abilities:

push yourself forward: Nicola was never one to miss out on a chance to push herself forward.

,push `off phrasal verb

1. ) intransitive or transitive if a person or boat pushes off, or if you push a boat off, you sail away from the land:

I dragged the boat down to the water and pushed off.

2. ) intransitive INFORMAL OLD-FASHIONED to leave a place:

I'll wait ten minutes more; then I'll push off for home.

3. ) intransitive usually in imperative BRITISH INFORMAL used for telling someone rudely and angrily to go away:

Push off, and leave me alone!

,push `on phrasal verb intransitive

1. ) to continue a trip, especially after stopping for a period of time:

The next day we pushed on toward Phoenix.

2. ) to continue doing something, especially when you do not have much time:

There's a lot to do, so let's push on.

push on with: I've pushed on with the work because I want to finish it today.

,push `over phrasal verb transitive

to push someone or something hard so that they fall from the position that they are in:

She pushed me over in the playground.

He pushed over the lamp.

,push `through phrasal verb transitive

to succeed in getting a law, agreement, etc. accepted quickly although a lot of people oppose it:

He is determined to push the bill through Congress.

push

push 2 [ puʃ ] noun **

▸ 1 pushing movement

▸ 2 way to encourage someone

▸ 3 determined attempt

▸ 4 movement of army

▸ 5 determination to do something

▸ 6 something difficult to do

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) count a movement in which you push someone or something using part of your body, especially your hands:

He opened the door with a violent push.

give someone/something a push: Jan helped me give the car a push.

2. ) singular a way of encouraging or forcing someone to do something they do not want to do:

give someone a push (to do something): I knew I could do it I just needed someone to give me an extra push.

need a push (to do something): Some people need a little push to make new friends.

3. ) count a determined attempt to do something:

push for: an unsuccessful push for financial reform

a push to do something: The two sides began a final push to reach an agreement before the deadline.

4. ) count a movement by an army farther into or through a country or area, using force:

push on: The army begin their push on the town at dawn.

5. ) uncount the energy and determination to achieve something:

She has the push to get to the top in any business.

6. ) singular INFORMAL something that is difficult to do, especially because you do not have much time:

It'll be a push, but we'll manage it.

if/when push comes to shove/if/when it comes to the push

if or when you are forced to make a decision or do something difficult:

If push came to shove, I would be willing to try.