push*/*/*/

[pʊʃ] verb I

1) [I/T] to move someone or something away from you using your hands

Ant:

pull

Push as hard as you can.[/ex]

She gently pushed him away.[/ex]

I pushed open the door.[/ex]

2) [I/T] to press a button on a machine

To turn on the television, you push this switch.[/ex]

3) [I/T] to move through a group of people using the force of your body

Stop pushing and just wait your turn.[/ex]

He just pushed past Fred and left.[/ex]

I was pushing my way through the crowd.[/ex]

4) [T] to make something reach a particular level or standard

The strong sun pushed temperatures into the nineties.[/ex]

The Bank of England had pushed up interest rates sharply to protect the pound.[/ex]

5) [T] to force someone to do something

The police pushed her into giving evidence.[/ex]

6) [T] to make someone work very hard

Some parents really push their children.[/ex]

You shouldn't push yourself so hard.[/ex]

7) [T] to make someone impatient or annoyed by behaving in an unreasonable way

If you push him too far, he'll resign.[/ex]

•

- push ahead

- push sb around

- push sth aside

- push for sth

- push in

- push off

- push on

- push sb/sth over

- push sth through

- push sth up

II

noun

push */[pʊʃ]

1) [C] a movement in which you push someone or something

Jan helped me give the car a push.[/ex]

2) [C] a determined attempt to do something

The two sides began a final push to reach an agreement before the deadline.[/ex]

3) [singular] an occasion when you encourage or force someone to do something

I knew I could do it – I just needed someone to give me an extra push.[/ex]

Some people need a little push to make new friends.[/ex]

•

at a push — British informalused for saying that something is possible, but very difficult[/ex]

I can afford to pay fifty pounds at a push.[/ex]

give sb the push — British informal 1) if your employer gives you the push, they force you to leave your job; 2) to end a sexual or romantic relationship with someone[/ex]

I finally gave him the push last night.[/ex]

if/whenpush comes to shove — if or when you are forced to make a decision or to do something difficult[/ex]