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push around

 - 3 dictionary results
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push

  [poosh]
Use push around in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to press upon or against (a thing) with force in order to move it away.
2. to move (something) in a specified way by exerting force; shove; drive: to push something aside; to push the door open.
3. to effect or accomplish by thrusting obstacles aside: to push one's way through the crowd.
4. to cause to extend or project; thrust.
5. to press or urge to some action or course: His mother pushed him to get a job.
6. to press (an action, proposal, etc.) with energy and insistence: to push a bill through Congress.
7. to carry (an action or thing) toward a conclusion or extreme: She pushed the project to completion.
8. to press the adoption, use, sale, etc., of: to push inferior merchandise on customers.
9. to press or bear hard upon, as in dealings with someone: The prosecutor pushed him for an answer.
10. to put into difficulties because of the lack of something specified (usually fol. by for): to be pushed for time.
11. Slang. to peddle (illicit drugs).
12. Informal. to be approaching a specific age, speed, or the like: The maestro is pushing ninety-two.
13. Photography. to modify (film processing) to compensate for underexposure.
–verb (used without object)
14. to exert a thrusting force upon something.
15. to use steady force in moving a thing away; shove.
16. to make one's way with effort or persistence, as against difficulty or opposition.
17. to extend or project; thrust: The point of land pushed far out into the sea.
18. to put forth vigorous or persistent efforts.
19. Slang. to sell illicit drugs.
20. to move on being pushed: a swinging door that pushes easily.
–noun
21. the act of pushing; a shove or thrust.
22. a contrivance or part to be pushed in order to operate a mechanism.
23. a vigorous onset or effort.
24. a determined advance against opposition, obstacles, etc.
25. a vigorous and determined military attack or campaign: The big push began in April.
26. the pressure of circumstances, activities, etc.
27. Informal. persevering energy; enterprise.
28. Informal. a crowd or company of people.
29. British. dismissal from a job; sack.
30. Australian Slang. a gang of hoodlums.
—Verb phrases
31. push around, to treat contemptuously and unfairly; bully: She's not the kind of person who can be pushed around.
32. push off, Informal. to go away; depart: We stopped at Denver for the night and were ready to push off again the following morning.
33. push on, to press forward; continue; proceed: The pioneers, despite overwhelming obstacles, pushed on across the plains.
—Idioms
34. push one's luck. luck (def. 12).
35. when or if push comes to shove, when or if matters are ultimately confronted or resolved; when or if a problem must be faced; in a crucial situation: If push comes to shove, the government will impose quotas on imports.
Origin:
1250–1300; ME pushen, poshen, posson (v.) < MF pousser, OF po(u)lser < L pulsāre. See pulsate

Synonyms:
3. shoulder. 5. persuade, impel.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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push   (pŏŏsh)   
v.   pushed, push·ing, push·es

v.   tr.

  1. To apply pressure against for the purpose of moving: push a shopping cart through the aisles of a market.

  2. To move (an object) by exerting force against it; thrust or shove.

  3. To force (one's way): We pushed our way through the crowd.

  4. To urge forward or urge insistently; pressure: push a child to study harder.

  5. To bear hard upon; press.

  6. To exert downward pressure on (a button or keyboard, for example); press.

  7. To extend or enlarge: push society past the frontier.

  8. Informal To approach in age: is pushing 40 and still hasn't settled down.

  9. Slang

    1. To promote or sell (a product): The author pushed her latest book by making appearances in bookstores.

    2. To sell (a narcotic) illegally: push drugs.

  10. Sports To hit (a ball) in the direction toward the dominant hand of the player propelling it, as to the right of a right-handed player.

v.   intr.

  1. To exert outward pressure or force against something.

  2. To advance despite difficulty or opposition; press forward.

  3. To expend great or vigorous effort.

n.  

  1. The act of pushing; thrust: gave the door a swift push.

  2. A vigorous or insistent effort toward an end; a drive: a push to democracy.

  3. A provocation to action; a stimulus.

  4. Informal Persevering energy; enterprise.

Phrasal Verb(s):
push around Informal To treat or threaten to treat roughly; intimidate.
push off Informal To set out; depart: The infantry patrol pushed off before dawn.
push onTo continue or proceed along one's way: The path was barely visible, but we pushed on.

Idiom(s):
push paper Informal To have one's time taken up by administrative, often seemingly petty, paperwork: spent the afternoon pushing paper for the boss.

Idiom(s):
push up daisies Slang To be dead and buried: a cemetery of heroes pushing up daisies.

Idiom(s):
when/if push comes to shoveAt a point when or if all else has been taken into account and matters must be confronted, one way or another: "We extol the virtues of motherhood and bestow praise on the self-sacrificing homemaker but when push comes to shove, we give her little recognition for what she does" (Los Angeles Times).

[Middle English pusshen, from Old French poulser, pousser, from Latin pulsāre, frequentative of pellere, to strike, push; see pel-5 in Indo-European roots.]
Synonyms: These verbs mean to press against something in order to move it forward or aside: push a baby carriage; wind propelling a sailboat; shove a tray across a table; thrust the package into her hand. See Also Synonyms at campaign.
Antonym: pull
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Idioms & Phrases

push around

Treat or threaten to treat roughly, bully, domineer, as in I won't let him push me around. [Colloquial; c. 1920]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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