- an act of pushing something/somebody
- She gave him a gentle push.
- The car won't start. Can you give it a push?
- (figurative) At the push of a button (= very easily) he could get a whole list of names.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- big
- hard
- gentle
- …
- give somebody/something
- at the push of a button
Definitions on the go
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- a large and determined military attack
- a final push against the enemy
- (figurative) The firm has begun a major push into the European market.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- big
- extra
- major
- …
- make
- push against
- push for
- push towards/toward
- …
- push for something a determined effort to achieve something
- The push for reform started in 2007.
Extra ExamplesTopics Successc2- The company is making a strong push to expand its distribution.
- There has been a big push for better public transport.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- big
- extra
- major
- …
- make
- push against
- push for
- push towards/toward
- …
- an act of encouraging somebody to do something
- He wants to open his own business, but needs a push in the right direction to get him started.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- big
- extra
- major
- …
- make
- push against
- push for
- push towards/toward
- …
using hands/arms/body
of army
effort
Word OriginMiddle English (as a verb): from Old French pousser, from Latin pulsare ‘to push, beat, pulse’ (see the verb pulse). The early sense was ‘exert force on’, giving rise later to ‘make a strenuous effort, endeavour’.
Idioms
See push in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee push in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishat a push
- (British English, informal) used to say that something is possible, but only with difficulty
- We can provide accommodation for six people at a push.
give somebody/get the push
- (British English, informal) to dismiss somebody/to be dismissed from your job synonym fire (3)
- They gave him the push after only six weeks.
- (British English, informal) to end a romantic relationship with somebody; to be told that a romantic relationship with somebody is over
- He was devastated when his girlfriend gave him the push.
when push comes to shove
- (informal) when there is no other choice; when everything else has failedTopics Preferences and decisionsc2, Difficulty and failurec2
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push