push
• verb 1 exert force on (someone or something) so as to move them away from oneself or from the source of the force. 2 move (one’s body or a part of it) forcefully into a specified position. 3 move forward by using force. 4 drive oneself or urge (someone) to greater effort. 5 (push for) demand persistently. 6 informal promote the use, sale, or acceptance of. 7 informal sell (a narcotic drug) illegally. 8 (be pushed) informal have very little of something, especially time. 9 (be pushing) informal be nearly (a particular age). • noun 1 an act of pushing. 2 a vigorous effort. 3 forcefulness and enterprise. — PHRASES at a push Brit. informal only if necessary or with difficulty. get (or give someone) the push Brit. informal 1 be dismissed (or dismiss someone) from a job. 2 be rejected in (or end) a relationship. push ahead proceed with or continue a course of action. push along (or off) Brit. informal go away. push in go in front of people who are already queuing. push one’s luck informal take a risk on the assumption that one will continue to be successful. when push comes to shove informal when one must commit oneself to action. — DERIVATIVES pusher noun. — ORIGIN Old French pousser, from Latin pulsare ‘pulse’.
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