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单词 push
释义

pushn.1

Brit. /pʊʃ/, U.S. /pʊʃ/
Forms: Middle English pusch, late Middle English pussch, late Middle English puysch, late Middle English–1600s pussh, 1500s poush, 1500s poushe, 1500s powsh, 1500s powshe, 1500s pushe, 1500s–1600s pusshe, 1500s– push.
Origin: Of uncertain origin. Perhaps formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: push v.
Etymology: Origin uncertain. Perhaps < push v. (and hence identical with push n.2), with reference to a pustule, boil, or pimple ‘pushing up’ from the skin.Alternatively, perhaps compare Middle Dutch puust , puyst pimple, blister (Dutch puist ), Middle Low German pūst swelling, German regional (Low German: East Friesland) pǖske pustule, pock, blister ( < an unattested form *pūse in sense ‘swollen object’ + -ke , suffix forming diminutives), apparently < a Germanic base of imitative origin with the sense ‘to inflate, swell up’, probably ultimately related to the Germanic forms cited at pose n.1 If the resemblance is not entirely coincidental (which it may well be), it is perhaps possible that the English word may show a borrowing or even a cognate of the continental words, apparently with shortening of the vowel before -st and alteration of the word by association with push v. Compare later pust n. It has also been suggested that the word is an alteration (probably after push v.) of pus n. Quot. a1400 is from the table of contents of the Middle English translation of Lanfranc; the word does not appear in the main text of this work.
English regional in later use.
A pustule, a pimple, a boil.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > suppuration > [noun] > a suppuration > abscess > boil > pustule
bladderc1000
whelkc1000
pustulea1398
pusha1400
pustulation?a1425
whealc1440
pust1527
burble1555
quat1597
pouk1601
bube1608
bub1612
crystal1661
blotch1669
epinyctis1676
phlyzacium1693
varus1756
stone-pock1818
whey-worm1828
a1400 tr. Lanfranc Sci. Cirurgie (Ashm.) (1894) 358 (MED) Of smale puschis [L. de saphatis] and scalis and crustis.
?a1450 J. Arderne in 17th Internat. Congr. Med. (1914) xxiii. 128 (MED) Ther was a ryche mane that hadde ane yvyll in the legge that came uppone hyme in the manere of a blake pussch.
?1537 T. Elyot Castell of Helthe iii. vi*. f. 60v Sommetyme blacke poushes or boyles, with inflamation and moche peyne.
1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes f. 71 Ἐξανθήματα, that is, litle pymples or pushes.
1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum Byle, botch, or powsh.
1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. ii. i. 340 The pining Phtisick fills them all with pushes Whence a slow spowt of cor'siue matter gushes.
1665 G. Harvey Disc. Plague 4 Risings like blisters, or small tumors and pushes, some red, others yellow.
1710 T. Fuller Pharmacopœia Extemporanea 422 Very useful for Pushes, Pimples, and Blemishes in the Face.
1822 J. M. Good Study Med. II. 285 Like the push is found in persons of an entonic or phlogotic habit.
1843 T. Watson Lect. Physic II. 796 A very common..pustular disease of the skin, usually called boil, in some parts of England a push, and by the learned furunculus.
1890 P. H. Emerson Wild Life on Tidal Water iv. 19 Wiper's oil for scrumatics, an' turps rags for pushes.
a1903 W. M. E. Fowler in Eng. Dial. Dict. (1903) IV. 653/2 [Hampshire] It's a push, miss, and weeps right awful.
1999 R. Malster Mardler's Compan. 59 Push, a boil.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

pushn.2

Brit. /pʊʃ/, U.S. /pʊʃ/
Forms:

α. 1500s pusshe, 1500s–1600s pushe, 1500s–1600s pussh, 1500s– push; Scottish pre-1700 pusch, pre-1700 1700s– push.

β. Scottish pre-1700 pousse, pre-1700 povss, pre-1700 puisse, 1700s–1800s pouse, 1800s pooss; Scottish and Irish English (northern) 1800s pouss.

Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: push v.
Etymology: < push v. Compare Middle French, French pousse act of pushing, impetuosity (15th cent.), poussée act of pushing, shove, pressure (1530 as poulcée in the phrase par poulcées ‘by a sequence of brief and brisk actions’). Compare earlier pushing n. Compare also pulse n.2 and the Romance forms cited at that entry. Perhaps compare also earlier push n.1
I. An act of pushing (in literal and figurative senses).
1.
a. An act of exerting vigorous effort for or to achieve some goal. Frequently in to make (also † give) a push: to make an attempt; to try for (also †at, or to do) something. Also †upon the (also a) push. at one push: all at once, in one go; †at the first push; at first, initially, early on (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > doing > [noun] > spell or bout of action
turnc1230
heatc1380
touch1481
pluck?1499
push?1560
bout1575
yoking1594
pull1667
tirl1718
innings1772
go1784
gamble1785
pop1839
run1864
gang1879
inning1885
shot1939
the mind > language > languages of the world > Indo-Hittite > [adjective] > Indo-European > Indo-Iranian > Iranian > Pashto or Saka
push?1560
Afghan1793
Pakhto1861
Saka1932
Pashto1962
the mind > language > languages of the world > Indo-Hittite > [noun] > Indo-European > Indo-Iranian > Iranian > east Scythian > Pashto
push?1560
Pakhto1784
Afghani1826
Afghan1933
Pashto1964
Pashtun1973
the world > action or operation > manner of action > effort or exertion > [noun] > instance of > an effort > vigorous
push1721
putsch1938
the world > action or operation > endeavour > [noun] > an attempt > hard or vigorous
tug1673
push1746
dasher1884
?1560 T. Norton Orations of Arsanes sig. Civ What soever countenance Philip make, and under what pretences soever he shroud himselfe, his very intent and drift is to give a push for the kyngdome of Persia.
1565 T. Stapleton Disc. Doctrine Protestants in tr. F. Staphylus Apol. f. 165v The whole corps off scripture was not, you know, at one push approued.
1583 A. Golding tr. J. Calvin Serm. on Deuteronomie i. ix. 51/2 True it is that we perceiue it not at the first push.
1596 T. Nashe Haue with you to Saffron-Walden sig. E2 Many men that are able to pay their debts, doo not..pay them presently at one push.
1601 J. Manningham Diary Feb. (1976) 49 Mr. Cokayne..their [= there] married him upon a pushe to a kinswoman of his.
1641 J. Milton Of Reformation 13 Exact Reformation is not perfited at the first push.
1653 T. Urquhart tr. F. Rabelais 1st Bk. Wks. xlviii. 214 Such is the nature and complexion of the frenches, that they are worth nothing, but at the first push.
1721 J. Perry Acct. Stopping Daggenham Breach 80 A great Number of Hands..wanting to make a Push as it was call'd, to turn the Tides out of the Levels.
1740 H. Bracken Farriery Improv'd (ed. 2) II. vi. 168 All their Art cannot make a thick-winded Horse run as long Pushes, as one with..a better Wind.
1746 Ld. Chesterfield Let. 8 Feb. (1932) (modernized text) III. 728 He [sc. Demosthenes]..at last made his strong push at the passions of his hearers.
1797 T. Morton Cure for Heart-ache ii. i. 27 Then, returning as completely vers'd in foreign manners and languages as the best of them, I'll make a push at high life.
1806 S. Mead Let. 4 Feb. in L. Dow Dealings of God, Man, & Devil (1849) 193/1 From the state of things I was continually upon the push.
1816 J. Austen Emma I. ix. 171 The consciousness of having made a push—of having thrown a die. View more context for this quotation
1818 Cobbett's Weekly Polit. Reg. 33 21 The Rump made a grand push to make over the City of Westminster to the Whigs.
1846 L. H. Sigourney Myrtis 147 I guess they did not see any thing they liked on the table, and thought they'd make a push to get something more to their taste.
1908 H. M. V. Temperley in Cambr. Mod. Hist. V. xv. 473 Bolingbroke addressed to his colleague a series of passionate appeals, bidding him in turn make a push for government.
1997 Chicago Tribune 14 Dec. iii. 12/3 The second-year quarterback is making a push to stick around for a third year.
2005 Express (Nexis) 1 June 68 Chairman Milan Mandaric..will make one last push for success before quitting.
b. An act of pushing forward in space; a determined advance; spec. a concerted military advance. Also figurative.In early use chiefly in to make a push (frequently with at, for, through, etc.).First widely used in the modern military sense during the First World War (1914–18) (cf. sense 3b).
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > forward movement > [noun] > determined or urgent
push1740
press1893
society > armed hostility > military operations > manoeuvre > [noun] > advance
approach1489
head1577
advance1593
drive1837
push1916
wave1943
1740 C. Davies Life & Adventures ii. 25 I went on in the direct Road, but order'd them to go round a little lane, and..to make a push for the Town.
1781 D. Morgan Let. 1 Feb. in T. Jefferson Papers (1951) IV. 495 Lord cornwallis fully intends to make a push through this state In order to make a junction on the roan oak or els whares.
1803 Ld. Nelson in Dispatches & Lett. (1845) V. 192 I wish I could know to a certainty where they are bound. I think..they will make a push at Messina.
1829 W. F. Napier Hist. War Peninsula II. vi. iii. 160 Making a ‘push’ of four hundred miles.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. v. 557 Argyle resolved to make a bold push for Glasgow.
1857 D. Livingstone Missionary Trav. S. Afr. iii. 64 We made a push for the lake.
1873 ‘M. Twain’ & C. D. Warner Gilded Age xiv. 138 Ruth was glad to hear that Philip had made a push into the world, and she was sure that his talent and courage would make a way for him.
1916 Punch 7 June 407 (caption) The far-reaching effect of the Russian push.
1916 F. M. Ford Let. 7 Sept. (1965) 75 The Big Push was too overwhelming for one to notice details; it was like an immense wave full of debris.
1935 Sun (Baltimore) 15 July 1/8 A marked push toward early completion of the Administration's ‘must’ program was expected.
1942 R.A.F. Jrnl. 30 May 33 The only original officer of the Wing who had been in the first push.
1964 Wall St. Jrnl. 5 Feb. 1 We're stepping up our drive on all fronts..and that includes our whole Northern push on housing..and voter registration.
1978 Time 3 July 17/1 The top-priority items are the kind of antitank and antiaircraft weapons that could be used to repulse a Soviet push across the border.
1993 Ski Surv. Feb. 26/1 It can take four or five weeks on Everest to prepare for the push to the summit.
†c. slang. A swindle; a robbery. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > robbery > [noun]
reiflockOE
reiflOE
robberya1200
rapea1325
reaveryc1325
robbing1340
ravinc1384
stouthreif1493
ravenya1500
bribery1523
reft1552
pillardise1598
involationa1680
mail robbery1797
hustling1823
push1874
blag1885
rolling1895
strong-arming1948
1874 Hotten's Slang Dict. (rev. ed.) 262 Push, a robbery or swindle. ‘I'm in this push’, the notice given by one magsman to another that he means to ‘stand in’.
d. The act of selling drugs illicitly. Cf. push v. 12c, pusher n. 1f. rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > selling > selling or sale of specific things > [noun] > narcotics
drug peddling1861
drug traffic1868
dope-trafficking1933
connection1934
dope-running1941
dope-smuggling1941
dope-peddling1959
drug-pushing1959
pushing1962
push1973
1973 J. Wainwright High-class Kill 58 The push was made in one of the city's public parks. The main pusher was one of those men nobody ever really sees.
e. Computing. A technology used on networks which makes it possible for data to be sent without being specifically requested by the recipient; spec. designating an internet service in which a provider supplies regularly updated information to a subscriber in chosen areas of interest. Usually attributive, esp. in push technology.
ΚΠ
1995 InfoWorld 25 Sept. 61 Both agents employ ‘push technology’ designed to increase speed and reduce network traffic.
1997 Computer Weekly 10 July (Internet Unravelled Suppl.) 11/1 You could have a push channel of information..that sends you stuff on sport, another on stock market prices, another on computer news stories, and so on.
1998 Computer Weekly 3 Sept. 41/3 The once-hot push technologies are already moving out of the marketing limelight in favour of the latest bandwagons, Dynamic HTML, XML and portal integration.
1998 T. Sheldon Encycl. Networking (new ed.) 817 Push is much more efficient. You choose the content to be delivered by filling out a subscription form. The push server then knows what you need, thus reducing Web browsing and request packets.
2.
a. An act of pushing something; an application of force or pressure to move someone or something away; a shove, a thrust.In early use sometimes with more violent implication: a blow, a stroke, a knock (cf. sense 3).
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impact > striking > [noun] > a stroke or blow
dintc897
swengOE
shutec1000
kill?c1225
swipc1275
stroke1297
dentc1325
touchc1325
knock1377
knalc1380
swapc1384
woundc1384
smitinga1398
lush?a1400
sowa1400
swaipa1400
wapc1400
smita1425
popc1425
rumbelowc1425
hitc1450
clope1481
rimmel1487
blow1488
dinga1500
quartera1500
ruska1500
tucka1500
recounterc1515
palta1522
nolpc1540
swoop1544
push1561
smot1566
veny1578
remnant1580
venue1591
cuff1610
poltc1610
dust1611
tank1686
devel1787
dunching1789
flack1823
swinge1823
looder1825
thrash1840
dolk1861
thresh1863
mace-blow1879
pulsation1891
nosebleeder1921
slosh1936
smackeroo1942
dab-
the world > movement > impact > striking > striking in specific manner > [noun] > striking with pushing action > pushing > a push
piltc1300
thrutchc1400
puta1450
dinga1500
push1613
hunch1630
budge1714
bunt1767
dunch1770
jow1790
thrust1823
poke-up1905
shtup1977
the world > movement > impelling or driving > pushing and pulling > [noun] > pushing > an act of
shovea1400
push1692
thrust1823
1561 T. Hoby tr. B. Castiglione Courtyer ii. sig. X.iiiv A man of the Countrye caryinge a coffer vpon his shoulders, chaunced therwithall to gyue Cato a harde pushe, and afterward said: Giue roume.
1582 R. Stanyhurst tr. Virgil First Foure Bookes Æneis ii. 35 Pyrrhus with fast wroght twibbil in handling Downe beats with pealing thee doors... A broad gap yawning with theese great pusshes is opned.
1613 S. Purchas Pilgrimage ii. x. 133 Here might you see the strong walles shaking and falling, with the pushes of the iron ramme.
1692 J. Dryden Cleomenes i. i. 5 When his spatious Hand Had rounded this huge ball of Earth, and Seas, To give it the first push, and see it rowl Along the vast Abyss.
1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 57. ¶3 She gives him a Push with her Hand in jest, and calls him an impudent Dog.
a1796 R. Burns Poems & Songs (1968) I. 278 I gi'e their wames a random pouse.
1802 E. Forster tr. Arabian Nights I. 190 Just at the edge of the well, he gave him a push, and threw him into it.
1885 Manch. Examiner 28 Sept. 5/1 [It] is on the edge of a precipice, and..it needs but a push to send it toppling into the gulf below.
1955 F. O' Connor Wise Blood vii. 126 Listen here,..that's a good car. You just give me a push, that's all.
a1985 P. White With the Jocks (2003) 488 We gave it a push and stepped back on opposite sides of the entrance as it gave slowly and heavily.
1999 Dayton (Ohio) Daily News (Nexis) 29 July 4 Switch the power on again..and give the doorbell button a push.
b. figurative. An exertion of influence or pressure, esp. to promote a person's advancement. Also as a mass noun: the power to exert such influence.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > promotion or help forward > [noun]
filsteOE
promotion1425
furtherancec1440
further1526
speeding1530
forwardness1591
lift1622
push1655
fartherance1785
leg up1871
society > authority > power > influence > [noun] > the exercise of > to promote a person's advancement
push1655
shove1724
1655 Ld. Norwich Let. 1 June in E. Nicholas Papers (1892) II. 318 I shall say much more to you..concerning this pushe (give me leave soe to call it). For whoe is there yt now pusheth not for his interest?
1793 Capt. Bentinck in Ld. Auckland's Corr. (1862) III. 48 Your Lordship will judge whether in this you can give me a push.
1889 Cent. Mag. 38 156 It is money or ‘push’ which secured the place that should have been awarded to merit.
1960 M. T. Williams Art of Jazz xxi. 235 When such drumming..ceases to be a ‘push’ behind the soloist.
1989 V. S. Pritchett Chekhov x. 128 Chekhov was ‘a famous man’ and the acquaintance would give a push to her career.
c. Contrasted with pull, to convey the idea of opposing forces (either actual or conceptual).
ΚΠ
1858 L. P. Hickok Rational Cosmol. ii. 93 In all push and pull there is counteraction, complex action, action and reaction.
1864 J. Anster tr. J. W. von Goethe Faustus 2nd Pt. ii. 170 Had I not toiled and tugged with push and pull, Would the world have been half so beautiful?
1932 E. N. da C. Andrade & J. Huxley Introd. Sci.: Bk. I iii. 63 Electric and magnetic forces act across perfect emptiness, as if with invisible pulls and pushes.
1966 L. Basford Sci. of Movement xii. 33/1 We usually think of a force as the push or pull needed to move something.
2005 Chicago Tribune (Midwest ed.) 13 Feb. ii. 4/6 The world that struggles daily and mightily with the push and pull between individuality and collective consciousness.
d. Sport. In hockey, cricket, etc.: a stroke in which the ball is pushed rather than hit; (Billiards and Snooker) a push shot.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > billiards, pool, or snooker > [noun] > actions or types of play > type of stroke
hazard1674
carambole1775
carom1779
cannon1802
screw1825
sidestroke1834
following stroke1837
cannonade1844
five-stroke1847
follow1850
scratch1850
fluke1857
jenny1857
bank shot1859
angle shot1860
draw shot1860
six-stroke1861
run-through1862
spot1868
quill1869
dead-stroke1873
loser1873
push1873
push stroke1873
stab1873
stab screw1873
draw1881
force1881
plant1884
anchor cannon1893
massé1901
angle1902
cradle-cannon1907
pot1907
jump shot1909
carry-along1913
snooker1924
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > batting > [noun] > types of stroke
long ball1744
nip1752
catch1816
no-hit1827
cut1833
short hit1833
draw1836
drive1836
square hit1837
skylarker1839
skyer1840
skyscraper1842
back-cut1845
bum1845
leg sweep1846
slog1846
square cut1850
driver1851
Harrow drive1851
leg slip1852
poke1853
snick1857
snorter1859
leg stroke1860
smite1861
on-drive1862
bump ball1864
rocketer1864
pull1865
grass trimmer1867
late cut1867
off-drive1867
spoon1871
push1873
push stroke1873
smack1875
Harrow drive1877
pull-stroke1880
leg glance1883
gallery-hit1884
boundary-stroke1887
glide1888
sweep1888
boundary1896
hook1896
leg glide1896
backstroke1897
flick1897
hook stroke1897
cover-drive1898
straight drive1898
square drive1900
edger1905
pull-drive1905
slash1906
placing stroke1907
push drive1912
block shot1915
if-shot1920
placing shot1921
cow-shot1922
mow1925
Chinese cut1937
haymaker1954
hoick1954
perhapser1954
air shot1956
steepler1959
mishook1961
swish1963
chop-
1873 J. Bennett & ‘Cavendish’ Billiards 309 Push strokes may be divided into the half-push and the push.
1888 R. H. Lyttelton in A. G. Steel & R. H. Lyttelton Cricket (Badminton Libr. of Sports & Pastimes) ii. 67 There is..a good length ball on the legs to which this push can be usefully applied if the batsman..cannot make use of the sweep to leg.
1893 Daily News 16 Mar. 5/5 He would..prohibit what is called the ‘push’, and he would enact a rule by which the red ball on being put down from the billiard spot during a break should be placed on the pyramid spot.
1898 K. S. Ranjitsinhji With Stoddart's Team (ed. 4) xii. 233 [MacLaren]..chiefly obtained his runs by his ‘push’ in the slips.
1921 G. R. C. Harris Few Short Runs iii. 58 [W. G. Grace] introduced what was then a novel stroke,..viz., the push to leg with a straight bat off the straight ball.
1936 S. Newman How to play Snooker 76 If the cue-ball is resting against any ball..in the ‘pack’, it is a push to smash the pack by striking at it.
1976 Evening Post (Nottingham) 14 Dec. 18/4 Both were caught by wicketkeeper Ved Raj off Lal's bowling, Fletcher playing an indeterminate defensive push.
1976 G. Carr Tackle Hockey i. 7 The push is the most effective of the strokes used to pass the ball, as it is the quickest and most accurate pass available to the hockey player.
2006 Stamford Mercury (Nexis) 29 Sept. Good passing from new player Faye Logan and the central midfielders led to a push into the D where Ellie Allam tipped it into the goal.
e. colloquial. to give (a person) the push: to throw out or dismiss, esp. from a job; to reject in a relationship. to get the push and variants: to be thrown out, dismissed, or rejected. Cf. boot n.3 1c.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > lack of work > [verb (transitive)] > dismiss or discharge
to put awaya1387
discharge1428
dismiss1477
to put out of wages1542
discard1589
to turn away1602
to put off1608
disemploy1619
to pay off1648
to pay off1651
to turn out1667
to turn off1676
quietus1688
strip1756
trundle1794
unshop1839
shopc1840
to lay off1841
sack1841
drop1845
to give (a person) the shoot1846
bag1848
swap1862
fire1879
to knock off1881
bounce1884
to give (a person) the pushc1886
to give (a person) the boot or the order of the boot1888
bump1899
spear1911
to strike (a medical practitioner, etc.) off the register1911
terminate1920
tramp1941
shitcan1961
pink slip1966
dehire1970
resize1975
to give a person his jotters1990
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > causing to go away > command to go away [verb (transitive)] > send away or dismiss > unceremoniously
to send packingc1450
trussa1500
to go (send, etc.) away with a flea in one's ear1577
to set packing1577
pack1589
ship1594
to send away with a fly in one's ear1606
to give a packing penny to1609
to pack off1693
to cut (also slip) the painter1699
to send about one's business1728
trundle1794
to send to the right about (also rightabouts)1816
bundle1823
to give the bucket to1863
shake1872
to give (a person) the finger1874
to give (a person) the pushc1886
to give (someone or something) the chuck1888
to give (someone) the gate1918
to get the (big) bird1924
to tie a can to (or on)1926
to give (a person) (his or her) running shoes1938
to give (someone) the Lonsdale1958
c1886 F. Gilbert I'll say no more to Mary Ann 5 The girl that stole my heart has given me the ‘Push’.
1893 P. H. Emerson Signor Lippo xx. 93 She was always taking on new ones, for you got the push in a year or two, arter you got too big.
1923 T. E. Lawrence Let. 23 Mar. (1938) 404 Nothing else showed up, after I got the push from the R.A.F.
1933 D. L. Sayers Murder must Advertise ix. 158 He told me to string him along. And afterwards..to give him the push.
1968 ‘P. Hobson’ Titty's Dead xv. 155 His landlady's given him the push.
1976 S. Barstow Right True End iii. xiv. 209 ‘Hedley Graham has started a month's notice.’ ‘You don't mean he's..?’ ‘Got the push? No. He gave Maurice Kendall his resignation on Friday.’
1989 A. Fine Goggle-eyes (1990) ii. 15 Mum's had boyfriends before, of course... For a long time it was Simon... Then Simon got the push, I'm not sure why, but I suspect he was too wet for Mum.
2002 L. Purves Radio (2003) xii. 173 We..promised to throw ourselves under the Director-General's car..if they dared give him the push.
3.
a. A thrust of a weapon, or of an animal's horn. Also in figurative context. See also push of pike n. at pike n.4 Phrases 3. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > cut of sharp weapon > [noun] > stroke with pointed weapon
stroke1297
stokea1400
foinc1450
stab1530
push1563
veny1578
stoccado1582
thrusta1586
venue1591
pink1601
longee1625
stob1653
tilt1716
lunge1748
stug1808
punzie1827
the world > movement > impact > striking > striking in specific manner > [noun] > striking with pushing action > a thrusting blow
sparc1540
job1560
push1563
thrusta1586
poss1611
jub1688
peg1728
jab1825
stab1902
the world > animals > by habits or actions > habits and actions > [noun] > thrusting or striking with head > push or thrust
butt1600
push1849
1563 A. Neville tr. Seneca Lamentable Trag. Œdipus v. sig. E.viii Alas alas, she is slayne, she is slayne, dispatched with a push.
1577 R. Holinshed Chron. II. 1835/2 At the Tourney .xij. strokes, wyth the sword, three pushes with the punchion staffe.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. iii. sig. C6v So great was the puissance of his push, That from his sadle quite he did him beare.
1641 J. Milton Animadversions 26 Repaire the Acheloian horne of your Dilemma how you can, against the next push.
1676 T. Hobbes tr. Homer Iliads xii. 181 And with a Push that pierc'd his Shield clean through His coming on a little while he stay'd.
1762 L. Sterne Life Tristram Shandy V. x. 54 A pull of a trigger—a push of a bayonet an inch this way or that—makes the difference.
1849 G. P. R. James Woodman I. iv. 73 It was nothing but push and thrust.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. vii. 170 He..will not suffer them to go on a hunting party, where there would be risk of a push from a stag's horn.
1907 Athenæum 13 July 47/2 ‘All the fine pushes were caught in the wood,’ or hide, of the shields.
†b. A vigorous charge, onset, or assault; an attack. Chiefly in military contexts. Also figurative. Obsolete.Distinguished from sense 1b by having a single, limited target.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > attack > [noun]
fiend-reseOE
frumresec1275
assault1297
sault1297
inracea1300
sailing13..
venuea1330
checkc1330
braid1340
affrayc1380
outrunningc1384
resinga1387
wara1387
riota1393
assailc1400
assayc1400
onset1423
rake?a1425
pursuitc1425
assemblinga1450
brunta1450
oncominga1450
assembly1487
envaya1500
oncomea1500
shovea1500
front1523
scry1523
attemptate1524
assaulting1548
push1565
brash1573
attempt1584
affront?1587
pulse1587
affret1590
saliaunce1590
invasion1591
assailment1592
insultation1596
aggressa1611
onslaught1613
source1616
confronta1626
impulsion1631
tentative1632
essaya1641
infall1645
attack1655
stroke1698
insult1710
coup de main1759
onfall1837
hurrah1841
beat-up of quarters1870
offensive1887
strafe1915
grand slam1916
hop-over1918
run1941
strike1942
1565 A. Golding tr. Caesar Martiall Exploytes in Gallia iii. f. 77v They were not able to abyde one pushe [L. unum impetum] of vs, but by and by tourned their backs.
1626 G. Markham Souldiers Gram. 25 Till they come to encounter and charge the Enemy..and bring euery seuerall hand to the pushe.
1672 W. Wycherley Love in Wood ii. i I will not stay the push. They come!
1677 Earl of Orrery Treat. Art of War 27 If the Push be vigorous, and the Resistance considerable.
1691 N. Luttrell Diary in Brief Hist. Relation State Affairs (1857) II. 264 The Irish army consisted of near 30,000 men, and 'twas beleiv'd would try one push.
1757 Ld. Chesterfield Let. 30 Sept. (1932) (modernized text) V. 2246 He is resolved to make a push at the Duke of Newcastle, Pitt and Co.
1781 W. Cowper Expostulation 706 The push And feeble onset of a pigmy rush.
1801 Asiatic Ann. Reg. 1800 Hist. India 24/2 The Major determined..to make one push at them, that their escape, at least, might be prevented.
1860 D. P. Thompson Doomed Chief xi. 196 I think this is just the time to make a push on those red, vaunting devils, which will show them a specimen of the mettle we are made of.
4. figurative.
a. The condition of being pushed or pressed; the pressure of affairs or circumstances; a case or time of stress or urgency; a critical juncture, an extremity, a pinch. Frequently (and now only) in phrases at (also in, †for) a push: at a critical moment, in an emergency, at a pinch. to come to the push: to reach the critical or decisive point.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > a suitable time or opportunity > [noun] > critical or decisive moment
articlea1398
prick?c1422
crise?1541
push1563
in the nick1565
jump1598
concurrence1605
cardo1609
(the) nick of time (also occasionally opportunity, etc.)1610
edgea1616
climacterical1628
climacteric1633
in the nick-time1650
moment1666
turning-point1836
watershed1854
psychological moment1871
psychical moment1888
moment of truth1932
crunch1939
cruncher1947
high noon1955
break point1959
defining moment1967
midnight1976
the world > action or operation > difficulty > [noun] > difficult state of things > sudden, extreme, or emergency
needOE
needinga1400
exigentc1475
plunge1519
opportunity1526
push1563
dead lift1567
heft1587
exigence1588
exigency1601
emergent1620
lift1624
emergencya1631
emergencea1676
emergementa1734
amplush1827
crisis1848
situation1954
1563 A. Neville tr. Seneca Lamentable Trag. Œdipus i. sig. A.ivv When that cares do crush Thy princelie brest, then ought ye most to beare and bide the push.
1573 T. Tusser Fiue Hundreth Points Good Husbandry f. 33v Which husbandly spared, maye serue at a push.
1594 J. Lyly Mother Bombie v. i. sig. G3v Our knaueries are now come to the push, and wee must cunningly dispatch all.
1599 E. Sandys Europæ Speculum (1632) 202 To what a miserable push have they driven the World.
1644 in 11th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1887) App. vii. 102 The extreame push of affaires that the associated Countyes are now put to.
1671 J. Milton Paradise Regain'd iv. 467 If thou..wilt prolong All to the push of Fate. View more context for this quotation
1691 A. Wood Athenæ Oxonienses II. 22 Chillingworth..was a subtile and quick Disputant, and would several times put the Kings Professor to a push.
1701 J. Froud Grove 11 With borrow'd Coin the Banker ventures all, And at a push must either rise, or fall.
1736 T. Gray Let. 27 Oct. in Horace Walpole's Corr. (1948) XIII. 115 When it came to the push, I found I had forgot all I intended to say.
1819 J. Keats Let. 14 Feb.–3 May in Lett. (1947) 305 He who talks of roasting a Man alive would not do it when it came to the push.
1842 J. Aiton Clerical Econ. iii. 111 When a push comes, he procures additional hands to get the hay up, or the oats in, or the potatoes planted.
1883 O. Schreiner Story Afr. Farm (new ed.) i. iv. 78 It's not the latest fashion..but it might do; it might serve at a push.
1933 H. Walpole Vanessa i. iv. 105 He would, at a push, do more for her than for anyone.
1989 B. Head Tales Tenderness & Power (1990) 17 If it comes to the push they'll defend you even if the law considers you in the wrong.
1997 Trail May 107/2 It's roomy for one person, but can take two at a push.
2003 Stairs & Pups in free.uk.pets.dogs (Usenet newsgroup) 10 Jan. I had a new light fixture fitted... But a strong torch light will do in a push.
b. colloquial. An action or task requiring the prolonged exertion of effort, a struggle; a challenge. Cf. pull n.1 6e.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > types of difficulty > [noun] > quality of being difficult or exacting > a difficult or demanding task
push1883
challenge1954
ass-kicker1973
1883 S. C. Hall Retrospect Long Life I. 325 It was a hard push to make a newspaper pay.
1908 E. M. Forster Room with View i. vii. 117 It will be a push to catch the morning train, but we must try.
1984 J. Kelman Busconductor Hines i. 24 We're having to do her work as well as our own. We're managing right enough but it's a push.
2006 Myrtle Beach (S. Carolina) (Nexis) 8 Nov. a8 He knew it would be a push even with the extra help.
5. Physical pressure; force acting outwards or away from an object; (Building) = thrust n. 3a(a) (rare).
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > mechanics > force > [noun] > pressure > thrust
impulsion?a1475
trusion1656
bear1674
thrust1708
push1715
bearing1753
shoot1772
out-thrust1842
1715 J. T. Desaguliers tr. N. Gauger Fires Improv'd i. ii. iii. 29 The Air that was in the Room before the Fire was made, has been driven away up the Chimney, by the Push of the External Air.
1772 C. Hutton Princ. Bridges 91 Drift, Shoot, or Thrust of an arch, is the push or force which it exerts in the direction of the length of the bridge.
1807 C. Hutton Course Math. (ed. 5) II. 269 The area of the triangular bank of earth is increased in the same proportion as its horizontal push is decreased.
1841 Civil Engineer & Architect's Jrnl. 4 167/1 The ‘push’ is thrown upon the cast-iron abutting piece.
1939 Geogr. Jrnl. 93 190 We sometimes must have exerted a horizontal push of nearly a third of a ton.
1986 Current Anthropol. 27 259/2 The downward pull of the masticatory muscles..and..the upward push of bite force.
6.
a. Determined and persistent effort to achieve success; drive, initiative, enterprise (often with the implication of competitiveness or ruthlessness).
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > [noun] > energy or enterprise > specific inconsiderate of others' rights
push1855
pushingness1881
pushfulness1897
pushiness1898
thrustfulness1907
1855 W. Bagehot in National Rev. Oct. 277 Like what is called ‘push’ in a practical man, his [Sydney Smith's] style goes straight to its object.
1880 Harper's Mag. June 36/1 It is only when considerable ability is combined with business ‘push’ that one is so successful.
1893 F. Peel Spen Valley 56 The stolid indifference and want of push and enterprise which has characterised agriculturists.
1906 J. Galsworthy Man of Prop. 300 ‘You'll like your father,’ he said—‘an amiable chap. Never was much push about him, but easy to get on with. You'll find him artistic and all that.’
1941 B. Schulberg What makes Sammy Run? iii. 43 Little guys..with more ability than push.
1989 B. Head Tales Tenderness & Power (1990) 56 We lack the vitality, the push, the devil-may-care temperament of the people of the north of Africa.
b. An impulse, an urge.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > motivation > [noun] > incitement or instigation > inward
movinga1382
motivec1485
impulse1702
push1860
1860 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Sept. 377/1 I feel a push to tell you something I wouldn't tell to any one else in this darned city.
1924 T. H. Y. Trotter Music & Mind 213 Acts of creation and of reproduction arise not from any inner push, but from processes of calculation.
2005 E. Cook Building Ministry of Comfort & Compassion ii. 23 I felt a push to visit a singles class. I don't know why.
II. concrete. Something that pushes or is pushed.
7.
a. A press of people; a crowd, throng. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being gathered together > an assemblage or collection > [noun] > of people or animals > regarded as a whole or a body of people gathered > large or numerous > densely packed together
threatc950
press?c1225
thring?c1225
threngc1275
throngc1330
shockc1430
crowd1567
frequency1570
gregation1621
frequence1671
push1718
munga1728
mampus?c1730
squeezer1756
squeeze1779
crush1806
cram1810
parrock1811
mass1814
scrouge1839
squash1884
1718 C. Hitchin True Discov. Conduct Receivers 13 He is a..Thieves Watchman, that lies scouting..when and where there is a Push, aliàs an accidental Crowd of People.
1753 Discov. J. Poulter (ed. 2) 26 In order to be out of the Push (or Throng).
1830 W. T. Moncrieff Heart of London II. 1 He's as quiet as a dummy-hunter [sc. pickpocket] in a push by Houndsditch.
1867 G. Meredith Vittoria II. xxix. 232 A great push of men emerged from one of the close courts.
1923 T. E. Lawrence Let. 21 May (1938) 422 I met your cousin once, at a push in London: had no proper talk of him.
1937 New Yorker 7 Aug. 21 The barker has brought in the nucleus of a good ‘push’ of spectators.
2001 C. Chinn & S. Thorne Proper Brummie 136 Push, betting terminology for a gang or crowd.
b. English regional (Yorkshire). A moving school or shoal of fish. rare.
ΚΠ
1876 F. K. Robinson Gloss. Words Whitby Skooal, or Push, a shoal of fish pursuing their course.
8.
a. colloquial. A large quantity of water; spec. a sudden increase in the pressure or volume of water in a river, stream, etc.; = flush n.2 2a.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > water > flow or flowing > sudden rush of water > [noun]
flush1529
shotc1540
ravine1545
cataract1634
push1782
debacle1802
startle1912
sloosh1919
1782 M. Flinders Diary 17 May in Gratefull to Providence (2007) I. 123 We have been a good deal flooded, and much damage done in the Fens, and low grounds; we have not had so much water in the Country for many years, I believe not since the great Flood in the winter of 1764. We had a great push of rain in 1773 in May, but not so much as at present.
1893 Times 28 Aug. 9/4 Little all-round sport [sc. angling] can be expected until a good ‘push’ of water arrives.
1894 Daily News 1 Nov. 3/5 The heavy push of water, which had long been looked forward to by anglers.
1895 Daily News 7 Oct. 9/3 The heavy downpour in the early hours of yesterday morning ought to cause a ‘push’ of land water, which is much needed to clear away the decaying weed-growth and to scour the river generally.
1935 Times 19 Nov. 11/2 The last big ‘push’ of water was in 1933.
1997 J. Wilson Coarse Fishing Method Man. (1998) 162/1 A 100-yard wide and 15–25-foot deep river with a good push of water.
b. English regional (Lincolnshire). A puddle or pool of water, esp. a large one left by a heavy downpour of rain. Cf. flush n.2 1. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > water > lake > small body or puddle > [noun]
plashlOE
pulkc1300
pludc1325
puddlec1390
sumpa1450
flush1487
dub?a1513
plashet1575
pool1596
slab1610
pudge1671
flodge1696
pant1807
pothole1867
push1886
splashet1896
1886 R. E. G. Cole Gloss. Words S.-W. Lincs. Push (pronounced short, as Rush), a pool or puddle. The watter all stood in pushes. We'd such a push of watter agen our door, we had to let it off.
9. slang (chiefly U.S. and Australian).
a. Originally U.S. A band or crowd of thieves; (Australian) a gang of larrikins, an association of violent criminals. Now historical.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > thief > [noun] > company of thieves
school1779
kleptocracy1819
mob1826
flash mob1832
push1866
1866 National Police Gaz. (U.S.) 3 Nov. 2 I went to Brooklyn..with the expectation of seeing a big 'push', but I was not prepared to see quite so large a 'mob' of 'professionals' [sc. professional thieves].
1867 National Police Gaz. (U.S.) 19 Oct. 3 Getting up ‘pushes’ and making ‘grafting’ profitable.
1884 M. Davitt Leaves from Prison Diary (1885) I. x. 95 The stocking-knitting party [in prison]..became known..as the ‘upper ten push’.
1890 Argus (Melbourne) 26 July 4/3 ‘Doolan's push’ were a party of larrikins working, or supposed to be working, in a potato paddock near by.
1893 Sydney Morning Herald 26 June 8/7 Day by day the new ‘push’ has become more daring. From chaffing drunken men and insulting defenceless women, the company has taken to assault, to daylight robbery.
1911 L. Stone Jonah 8 Suddenly there was a cry of ‘Nit! 'Ere's a cop!’ and the push bolted like rabbits.
1927 Amer. Speech 2 385/1 Any kind of a gang was known as a push, a word credited to Australia, but I think it is a sister of the mob of the city underworld.
1932 K. S. Prichard Kiss on Lips 45 Deceased, who was an associate of thieves and criminals, has probably paid the penalty of a push vendetta.
1967 Sunday Mail Mag. (Brisbane) 12 Nov. 3/1 Experts on push warfare in Sydney in the early 1870's rated The Rocks Push as the No. 1 team of larrikins in the city.
2000 Australian (Nexis) 20 July f1 In the first decade of the 1900s, in the days when Bourke Street [in Melbourne] was a..world of roysterers and floozies, [Squizzy] Taylor ran with a push called the Bourke Street Rats.
b. Originally and chiefly Australian. In extended use: any company or party; any group of associates; a coterie, a crowd, a ‘set’.
ΚΠ
1884 Bulletin (Sydney) 30 Aug. 10/1 We wished we were in the ‘push’ to go with them overland to Sydney.
1898 E. E. Morris Austral Eng. (at cited word) Its use began with the larrikins, and spread, until now it often means clique, set, party, and even jocularly so far as ‘the Government House Push’.
1899 R. Whiteing No. 5 John St. xxix. 306 The papers chimed in, and our push suddenly found we were monsters, when all we wanted was to have a dance.
1905 Truth (Sydney) 14 May 4/6 There is a big push of sanctimonious saints in Wanganui.
1964 C. Mackenzie My Life & Times III. 182 Presently there burst into the room half a dozen of the rowing ‘push’.
1986 Sydney Morning Herald 8 Mar. 3/6 The piece was produced by a New York push which appears so far to be dominating the festival.
10. A button, switch, etc., which is pushed or pressed in order to operate a mechanism; a push-button. Now chiefly in bell-push n. at bell n.1 Compounds 2.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > parts of machines > control(s) > [noun] > buttons
tit1864
push-button?1874
press-buttonc1876
push1886
pressel1892
press-cock1932
stop button1940
touch key1957
1886 Electrician 16 212/2 The other [electric signalling device] is worked in the hall by a number of pushes..actuating one common indicator.
1889 Sci. Amer. 18 May 313/1 The spring push, which was secured higher up on the door,..could be tampered with by patients so inclined.
c1890 F. E. Powell Electr. Bells 43 A push might be described as an automatic switch, as it is self-stopping when the pressure is removed.
1902 Daily Chron. 27 June 2/6 Push-tap valves..do not require a key, the driver simply having to press the push and the water runs off.
1930 Telegr. & Teleph. Jrnl. 16 86/1 The depression of a push completes the circuit.
11. North American slang (originally and chiefly in the logging industry). A foreman, a boss.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > forestry or arboriculture > lumbering > [noun] > lumberman > manager or owner
timberman1889
push1908
woods boss1928
1908 T. D. Whittles Lumberjack Sky Pilot iv. 77 The ‘walking boss’ gives his orders to the subordinate boss who has charge of an individual camp. This subordinate is known as the ‘push’. Under the ‘push’ is another who goes by the name of the ‘straw push’.
1930 Brit. Columbia Lumberman May 50/2 The push jest told me that the yarder went and broke down today.
1984 A. J. Quinnell Blood Ties iv. 45 ‘What's my job?’ ‘You're the push... My boss.’

Compounds

push present n. originally U.S. a gift given to a woman shortly after she has given birth, typically by her spouse or partner.
ΚΠ
1992 Colorado Springs Gaz. Tel. 31 Mar. a4/2 Annette Bening has lost all that baby weight—Warren must have given her a ThighMaster as a push present.
2016 G. Schmitt Little Girl Gone i. 4 Caught up in the flush of new baby excitement, the average husband could be talked into just about any kind of push present.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

† pushn.3int.

Origin: An imitative or expressive formation.
Etymology: Imitative. Compare pish int., earlier tush int., and slightly later pshaw int.
Obsolete.
A. n.3
An utterance of ‘push’ (sense B.). to make a push at: to treat with disdain; = to make a pish at at pish n. 1.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > hold in contempt [verb (transitive)] > treat with contempt
unworthc950
to make scorn at, toc1320
to take in vainc1330
despise1377
rebuke?a1400
despite1481
indign1490
to make a mumming of1523
flock1545
scandalize1566
to make coarse account of1578
misregard1582
overpeer1583
to make a pish at (also of)1593
to make a push at1600
to bite by the nose1602
blurta1625
to piss ona1625
to make wash-way of, with1642
trample1646
huff1677
snouch1761
to walk over (the course)1779
to run over ——1816
snoot1928
shaft1959
1600 W. Shakespeare Much Ado about Nothing v. i. 38 There was neuer yet Philosopher, That could endure the tooth-ake patiently, How euer they haue writ the stile of gods, And made a push at chance and sufferance.
B. int.
Expressing contempt, impatience, or disgust; = pish int., tush int. Also (reduplicated) push push.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > exclamations of contempt [interjection]
prut?c1300
trutc1330
truptc1380
ahaa1400
tushc1440
puff1481
quotha?1520
ah?1526
ta ha1528
twish1577
blurt1592
gip1592
pish1592
tantia1593
(God) bless (also save) the mark1593
phah1593
marry come up1597
mew1600
pooh1600
marry muff1602
pew waw1602
ptish1602
pew1604
push1605
pshaw1607
tuh1607
pea1608
poh1650
pooh pooh1694
hoity-toity1695
highty-tighty1699
quoz?1780
indeed1834
shuck1847
skidoo1906
suck1913
zut1915
yah boo1921
pooey1927
ptui1930
snubs1934
upya1941
yah boo sucks1980
1605 First Part of Hieronimo i. ii. 6 I know you are to hot, to full of spleene for an imbassador, And will leane much to honor. [Andrea] Push.
1605 Hist. Tryall Cheualry sig. C4v Fer. Push, meet me. Pem. Ferdinand, I will.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Timon of Athens (1623) iii. vii. 107 2 Know you the quality of Lord Timons fury? 3 Push, did you see my Cap?
1624 Trag. Nero i. sig. B1 Push, it could not be like this.
1735 Lives Most Remarkable Criminals I. 105 Push! push! answer'd the Woman.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2019).

pushv.

Brit. /pʊʃ/, U.S. /pʊʃ/
Forms:

α. Middle English possh, Middle English pusch, Middle English pusche, Middle English puste (past tense), Middle English–1500s pusshe, Middle English–1600s pussh, 1500s powshe, 1500s pushe, 1500s puszshe, 1500s– push; Scottish pre-1700 pusche, pre-1700 1700s– push.

β. English regional 1800s puss (Devon), 1800s– poose (chiefly northern), 1800s– powse (chiefly northern); Scottish pre-1700 pous, pre-1700 pousse, pre-1700 poust (past tense and past participle), pre-1700 powsse, pre-1700 pust (past participle), pre-1700 pvss, pre-1700 1700s–1800s pouss, pre-1700 1700s– pouse, 1800s poose, 1800s puss.

Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymon: French pousser.
Etymology: < Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French pousser (French pousser ) to breathe with difficulty, to wheeze (c1150 with reference to a horse, beginning of the 14th cent. with reference to a person), to exercise physical pressure on, to shove or jostle (a person or thing) (late 12th cent. in an apparently isolated attestation, subsequently from late 14th cent.), to incite, egg on (1538), to make one's way against opposition (1580, originally used reflexively), (of a plant) to send out (a shoot or root) (1580), to grow (1660), to work for the advancement or promotion of (late 17th cent.) < classical Latin pulsāre pulse v. Compare slightly earlier poss v. and discussion at that entry, and also pulse v. and Anglo-Norman pulser (c1230).Many senses of the English word are apparently not paralleled in French until later, e.g.: to compel (a person) to follow some course of action (1651), to pursue (an action) with vigour, to press to a conclusion (1656 in pousser sa pointe ), to urge on, impel (an animal) (1660 with reference to a horse), to drive or repulse (an enemy) by force of arms (1660), to stab or thrust with (a weapon) (1670). The word largely superseded put v. in its early senses ‘to thrust, to butt’ (see put v. I., and compare discussion at that entry). The α. forms show palatalization of the final consonant, perhaps reflecting a corresponding (unattested) form in French (compare discussion in R. Jordan Handb. der mittelenglischen Grammatik (1934) §260), although analogy is also possible (within English) with e.g. crush v., quash v., rush v.2 (The past tense form puste in quot. a1350 at sense 1a probably belongs with the α. forms, probably showing simplification of the consonant cluster: compare the rhyming word fluste , past tense of flush v.1) In Middle English prefixed and unprefixed forms of the past participle are attested (see y- prefix).
I. Of physical action.
1.
a. transitive. To exert force upon or against (a body) so as to move it away; to move by force, esp. to move along by exerting a continuous force; to shove, thrust, drive, press. Opposed to to draw or to pull.In early use sometimes applied to the communication of force through impact, as through a thrust or blow (cf. sense 2), but later applied only to pressure exerted through contact.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > place > placing or fact of being placed in (a) position > place or put in a position [verb (transitive)] > forcibly, firmly, or quickly
thudc1000
throwa1250
pilt?c1250
casta1300
pusha1350
hurla1375
paltc1390
thrusta1400
thack1542
clap1559
to throw on1560
planch1575
protrude1638
shove1807
bung1825
shoot1833
slap1836
plunk1866
slam1870
spank1880
the world > movement > impelling or driving > pushing and pulling > push and pull [verb (transitive)] > push
thrustc1175
pilta1200
pingc1300
pote1340
pusha1350
beara1398
pokea1425
possa1425
pressc1425
shun1674
crowd1830
the world > movement > impact > striking > striking in specific manner > strike in specific manner [verb (transitive)] > strike with pushing action > give a push to
poteOE
puta1225
duncha1250
wag1377
pusha1450
jut1565
jog1589
stir1590
jolt1611
hunch1659
shtup1987
a1350 (?c1225) King Horn (Harl.) (1901) 1079 (MED) Horn þe wyket puste þat hit open fluste.
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add.) f. 56v If it puschiþ & prickeþ þe stomake, it is I-picchid & I-pricked & compelliþ it to passe out..and so þe greuous mete passiþ out.
a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) 4625 The righte weye she took to me, Which stod in gret perplexite, That was posshed in every side, That I nyst where I myght abide. [Cf. 4479 Thus am I possed up and doun.]
a1450 York Plays (1885) 481 (MED) Þei pusshed hym; þei passhed hym.
1562 tr. Damiano da Odemira Pleasaunt Playe of Cheasts sig. Ev If he pushe his Paune one steppe more.
1593 J. Eliot Ortho-epia Gallica 36 Do not push me for I am with childe.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Winter's Tale (1623) ii. iii. 125 I pray you doe not push me, Ile be gone. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Julius Caesar (1623) v. v. 25 It is more worthy, to leape in our selues, Then tarry till they push vs. View more context for this quotation
1648 tr. J.-F. Senault Paraphr. Job 408 Those Stones..make as little impression upon his body, as a feastraw would which the hand of a childe should push.
1712 J. Arbuthnot App. to John Bull Still in Senses iii. 19 Then Jack's Friends began to hunch and push one another, Why don't you go and cut the poor Fellow down?
1755 S. Johnson Dict. Eng. Lang. at Push-pin A child's game in which pins are pushed alternately.
1859 Ld. Tennyson Enid in Idylls of King 60 The door, Push'd from without, drave backward to the wall.
1870 C. E. L. Riddell Austin Friars xii When a woman mixes among a crowd, she must expect to be jostled and pushed by the sterner sex.
1893 Labour Commission Gloss. 65/2 The tram containing the coal is sometimes pushed by the boy, and sometimes pulled by a pony.
1935 G. Greene Eng. made Me i. 17 When I pushed the button no bell rang, and the light on the landing had been disconnected.
1953 H. Clevely Public Enemy xiii. 72 ‘Did she fall or was she pushed?’ he asked jocularly.
1999 F. McCourt 'Tis xxviii. 228 It was hard pushing the pram because it had one bockety wheel that wanted to go its own way.
b. transitive. With adverb or adverbial phrase expressing the direction or way in which the thing is moved; as to push back, down, in, out, onward, open, etc. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > causing to go away > command to go away [verb (transitive)] > drive away > by pushing
push1530
to bear off1627
?c1450 in G. J. Aungier Hist. & Antiq. Syon Monastery (1840) 262 Yf any..pusche or sperne any suster from her withe armes or scholders.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 671/1 He pusshed me awaye as harde as he coulde..il me rebouta, or me repulsa darriere luy tant quil peut.
1566 W. Painter Palace of Pleasure I. xxxvii. f. 86v Pushyng her from hym, as she was about to clepe hym aboute the necke.
1595 R. Parry Moderatus iv. sig. D3v His friend Moderatus..pushed open the doore, and entred the chamber.
1611 Bible (King James) Psalms xliv. 5 Through thee will wee push downe our enemies. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Winter's Tale (1623) ii. iii. 74 Will you not push her out? View more context for this quotation
1663 G. Mackenzie Religio Stoici 118 The Rose being pous'd up by the salt nitre which makes it vegetative.
1699 tr. J. de La Bruyère Characters 216 To be pusht back from a Gate by an innumerable number of Clients that wait on a Courtier.
1748 Answers King's Coll. Aberdeen & Representatives Principal Chalmers 4 This together with the Rent in the old South Gavel..by pushing the Side-Walls out of Plumb, has occasioned the present Disrepair.
1781 W. Cowper Expostulation 690 The word of prophesy, those truths divine..Are never long vouchsaf'd, if push'd aside With cold disgust or philosophic pride.
1791 A. Radcliffe Romance of Forest I. i. 9 He was turning to go out when the man suddenly pushed him back, and he heard the door locked upon him.
1801 W. Coxe Hist. Tour Monmouthshire II. xxiv. 231 At the junction of two roads.., moveable rails, called turn rails, are occasionally used, which are fastened with screws.., and may be pushed sideways.
1871 B. Stewart Heat (ed. 2) §131 As the liquid became heated its vapour pushed the mercury before it along the tube.
1881 F. M. Balfour Treat. Compar. Embryol. II. xiii. 276 One half of the blastosphere may be pushed in towards the opposite half, and a gastrula be thus produced.
1898 T. Watts-Dunton Aylwin i. i She turned the key and pushed open the door.
1915 A. S. Neill Dominie's Log i. 16 A wee lassie..pushed a very sticky sweetie into my hand.
1960 Observer 20 Mar. 29 The white Southern Rhodesians have always had this fear in the back of their minds; now it has been pushed to the front.
1977 J. D. MacDonald Condominium xxiv. 220 If he kept pushing her along, she walked. If he stopped pushing, she stopped walking.
1991 Drew Mag. Aug. 14/1 He dons the cowboy hat and pushes it back to his hairline, John-Wayne style.
2000 C. Tudge Variety of Life ii. vi. 213 The cnida..consists of a long hollow tube, which in the resting state is pushed inwards..as you might push in the finger of a rubber glove.
c. intransitive. To exert force or pressure on a person or thing; to move something by force (also with adverb); spec. to exert muscular pressure internally, esp. during the second stage of labour.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impelling or driving > pushing and pulling > push and pull [verb (intransitive)] > push
shovea900
thrustc1275
possc1300
push1527
the world > life > source or principle of life > birth > confinement > be confined [verb (intransitive)] > be in labour > bear down
push1527
to bear down1672
1527 L. Andrewe tr. H. Brunschwig Vertuose Boke Distyllacyon sig. Nv Water of nettles..is good for the bermoder [v.r. ber mother] whan she pussheth upwarde.
1581 B. Rich Farewell Militarie Profession sig. Nj I..will set open the streate doore, so as you shall not neede but to pushe at it.
1623 W. Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII v. iii. 15 We may as well push against Powles as stirre 'em. View more context for this quotation
1648 T. Gale English-Amer. xx. 176 I perceived they would have come in by force, for they pushed hard at the doore.
1731–2 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 37 328 With the same flat Button-end of the Probe, I pushed slightly towards the Brain in the Head.
1809 M. Edgeworth Madame de Fleury i, in Tales Fashionable Life II. 168 I shoved Victoire, and she pushed at me again.
1855 Ld. Tennyson Brook in Maud & Other Poems 105 I..push'd at Philip's garden-gate.
1906 D. Gallaher & W. J. Stead Compl. Rugby Footballer vii. 106 The side-row men press on the hookers, and the back-row men push against the lock.
1942 E. Gentry in R. Hill & H. Becker Marriage & Family xv. 449 It [sc. the head] exerts pressure on the rectum and makes the mother feel the desire to push.
1983 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 30 July 309/2 The mother should not be encouraged to push until she feels the urge to do so.
1994 Action Asia Aug. 28/1 Almost everyone ended up having to get off and push.
d. transitive. To drive or repulse (an enemy) by force of arms; to drive (quarry) in the chase.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > defence > holding out or making stand > hold [verb (transitive)] > repel
defendc1330
rebukec1380
rebut?a1425
rebatea1475
repel?a1475
repulse?a1475
rechasec1475
to set aside1522
push?1571
shoulder1581
to beat back1593
the world > food and drink > hunting > hunting specific animals > [verb (transitive)] > hunt fox > drive in the chase
push1735
?1571 tr. G. Buchanan Detectioun Marie Quene of Scottes sig. Gij Sic as are able to shooue forwart and to push hedlang a hart for outrage nat able to gouerne it selfe.
1634 T. Herbert Relation Some Yeares Trauaile 27 The Mallabars pushing them [sc. our skiffs] and throwing fire-balls at vs.
1684 J. Dryden tr. L. Maimbourg Hist. League iv. 951 His brave Attendants, who..fought like Lyons, and push'd the Enemy with so much vigor, that those six Squadrons fell back in confusion upon each other.
1709 London Gaz. 4585/2 They charged our Horse, and broke in upon us; we rallied, and pushed them.
1723 D. Defoe Hist. Col. Jack (ed. 2) 281 After we had thus pushed the Enemies Cavalry.
1735 W. Somervile Chace iii. 492 The tenacious Crew Hang on the Track,..And push him [sc. the fox] many a League.
1803 Duke of Wellington Dispatches (1837) II. 331 I..determined to manœuvre by my left, and push the enemy upon the nullah.
1865 W. Whitman Centenarian's Story in Drum-taps 22 Our foe advancing, steadily getting the best of it, push'd us back to the works on this hill.
1910 Encycl. Brit. I. 825/2 Nearly 90,000 men marched northward toward Virginia, pushing Johnston's weak army before them.
1988 Field & Stream Oct. 58/1 Moving through a stand of timber or heavy brush with the intent of pushing a buck onto the opposite open slope.
1992 Financial Sunday Express (New Delhi) 13 Sept. 8/2 India launched ‘Operation Meghdoot’ to push the Pak troops down the Siachen glacier.
e. intransitive. To thrust others out of one's way; to jostle, shove.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impelling or driving > pushing and pulling > push and pull [verb (intransitive)] > push > aside
push1735
the world > movement > impact > striking > striking in specific manner > strike in specific manner [verb (intransitive)] > strike with pushing action > give a push > jostle
shovec1290
hurla1425
thrumble?a1513
jostle1546
push1735
birze1793
thrutchc1837
be-elbow1847
1735 W. Somervile Chace ii. 236 Alternate they preside, and justling push To guide the dubious Scent.
1816 J. Scott Paris Revisited i. 13 Rather than pay three-pence to one of the men on the quays, they stumbled, and panted, and pushed, under a load which was heavier than it need to have been.
1891 T. Hardy Tess of the D'Urbervilles II. xxi. 8 ‘Don't push! You can see as well as I,’ said Retty.
1931 T. F. Powys Unclay (1974) i. 2 They..discovered the scent,..rushed, pushed, and scrambled.
1985 P. Farmer Eve ii. 19 The animals..made way for each other amicably, did not push and shove.
2000 Valley Independent (Monessen, Pa.) 17 Mar. (Jubilation section) 8/1 His disciples looked at the many people pushing and shoving as they traversed the narrow streets.
f. transitive. To move forward or advance (a force) against opposition or difficulty.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > attack > attack [verb (transitive)] > cause (troops) to attack
fling1707
push1748
1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson ii. xi. 25 He intended to have push'd two hundred of his men on shore in his boats.
1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson ii. xiv. 286 To hinder us from pushing our men on shore.
1800 Duke of Wellington Dispatches (1834) I. 21 Some campoos and pultans, which have been indiscreetly pushed across the Kistna.
1827 R. Southey Hist. Peninsular War II. 513 The French pushed their patroles of cavalry near the town.
1879 W. H. Dixon Royal Windsor II. xv. 158 Henry pushed his scouts along the road towards Windsor.
1919 J. Buchan Mr. Standfast xxi. 385 The Boche is pushin' up new troops.
1992 Herald Sun (Melbourne) (Nexis) 12 Oct. The Serbian rebels had pushed reinforcements into the fray in an effort to establish military dominance across northern Bosnia.
g. transitive. Sport. To move (the ball) by pushing rather than hitting; to play a push shot or push stroke. Also occasionally intransitive.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > billiards, pool, or snooker > [verb (intransitive)] > actions or types of play
carambole1775
string1814
cannon1825
to make a baulk1839
star1839
push1851
to play for safety1857
run1857
carom1860
to knock the balls about1864
miscue1889
snooker1889
break1893
break1893
scratch1909
to call one's shot1953
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > batting > bat [verb (transitive)] > hit > hit with specific stroke
take1578
stop1744
nip1752
block1772
drive1773
cut1816
draw1816
tip1816
poke1836
spoon1836
mow1844
to put up1845
smother1845
sky1849
crump1850
to pick up1851
pull1851
skyrocket1851
swipe1851
to put down1860
to get away1868
smite1868
snick1871
lift1874
crack1882
smack1882
off-drive1888
snip1890
leg1892
push1893
hook1896
flick1897
on-drive1897
chop1898
glance1898
straight drive1898
cart1903
edge1904
tonk1910
sweep1920
mishook1934
middle1954
square-drive1954
tickle1963
square-cut1976
slash1977
splice1982
paddle1986
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > batting > bat [verb (intransitive)] > types of stroke
chop1776
mow1844
crump1850
poke1851
cut1857
swipe1857
glance1898
glide1899
cart1903
nibble1926
on-drive1930
slash1955
cover-drive1960
push1963
1851 J. Pycroft Cricket Field x. 191 A good ball..is pushed forward to middle wicket.
1873 J. Bennett & ‘Cavendish’ Billiards 314 To push, the cue must be placed all but touching the player's ball.
1893 Cricket 26 Oct. 442/1 Box..has a style of getting off his ground when a ball is directed to his legs, with the intention of..‘pushing’ it to the ‘leg’.
1920 D. J. Knight in P. F. Warner Cricket (Badminton Libr. of Sports & Pastimes) (new ed.) i. 34 If he [sc. the batsman] is pushing the ball away to long leg, he must face long leg.
1963 A. Ross Australia 63 iii. 76 He moved quick enough up the wicket to Titmus, but having got there was content to push.
1991 Athlon's Baseball '91 14/1 Sandberg, batting second... pushed a ground ball to the right side.
h. transitive. Computing. To prepare (a stack) to receive an item on the top. Also: to move (an item) to the top of a stack; (of an added item) to move existing items in a stack down the list into new locations. Usually with down. Opposed to pull v. 38. Cf. push-down adj. 1.
ΘΚΠ
society > computing and information technology > data > database > use data [verb (transitive)] > prepare a stack
push1963
society > computing and information technology > data > database > use data [verb (transitive)] > prepare a stack > transfer to a stack
push1963
1963 B. F. Green Digital Computers in Res. v. 95 The initial set up pushes down lists for storing the input symbol, the replacement symbol, and the name of the list and also pushes down a temporary storage cell that will hold the current location on the list as the routine progresses.
1967 H. Hellerman Digital Computer Syst. Princ. viii. 342 The structure thus behaves as if an entered item ‘pushes down’ the other items.
1976 M. M. Mano Computer Syst. Archit. vii. 267 The interrupt cycle automatically pushes the return address into the stack.
1983 Your Computer Aug. 63/1 Next, we push the remaining registers on the stack.
2002 Electronic Engin. Times (Nexis) 2 Sept. 66 Its memory-to-memory architecture allows a single instruction to pull a value off the stack, perform an operation and push the result back onto the stack.
†2.
a. intransitive. To thrust with a pointed weapon, stick, or the like; to tilt, fence; to use a pike, short sword, etc. Frequently with at. Also transitive: to thrust (a sword, etc.). Also figurative. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > cut of sharp weapon > strike with sharp weapon [verb (intransitive)] > strike with pointed weapon
beakc1300
pushc1390
foin?a1400
stab1487
stogc1590
voine1596
thrust1598
chib1962
c1390 (a1376) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Vernon) (1867) A. vii. 96 Mi plouh-pote schal be my pyk and posshen [c1400 Trin. Cambr. putte; v.r. posse] atte Rootes, And helpe my coltre to kerue.
1557 Earl of Surrey et al. Songes & Sonettes sig. X.iiv Then pusshed souldiers with their pikes And holbarders with handy strokes.
1567 A. Golding tr. Ovid Metamorphosis (new ed.) vii. f. 82 Preparing for to push their Pikes (which sharply headed were) In Iasons face.
1600 P. Holland tr. Livy Rom. Hist. xxvii. xxviii. 650 Others..pushed at them with punchion poles.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry V (1623) ii. i. 94 As manhood shal compound: push home. View more context for this quotation
1692 Diary Siege Lymerick Pref. sig. A ijv With so poor a Handful to push so bold a Sword, and carry so intire a Victory.
1699 G. Farquhar Love & Bottle ii. ii. 18 The Duke of Burgundy..pushes the finest of any Man in France.
1700 J. Dryden Chaucer's Palamon & Arcite iii, in Fables 67 That none shall dare With shortned Sword to stab in closer War;..Nor push with biting Point, but strike at length.
a1715 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Own Time (1724) I. 376 When Duke Lauderdale was hotly pushed at, he then promised..that he would avoid all former errors.
1738 D. Neal Hist. Puritans IV. 577 A bold and forward man, who pushed at every thing that might ruin the Church.
1791 W. Cowper tr. Homer Iliad in Iliad & Odyssey I. iv. 383 Let the green In years..Push with the lance.
1847 Ld. Tennyson Princess v. 119 But Arac rode him down: And Cyril seeing it, push'd against the Prince.
b. transitive. To prod, stab, strike, with or as with a weapon. Also figurative (cf. put v. 3b). Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > injury > injure [verb (transitive)] > wound > wound with sharp weapon
woundc760
stickOE
snese?c1225
stokea1300
steekc1300
bearc1330
stangc1340
chop1362
broach1377
foinc1380
strikec1390
borea1400
dag?a1400
gorea1400
gridea1400
staira1400
through-girdc1405
thrustc1410
runc1425
to run throughc1425
traversec1425
spitc1430
through-seeka1500
stitch1527
falchiona1529
stab1530
to stab (a person) in1530
stob?1530
rutc1540
rove?c1550
push1551
foxa1566
stoga1572
poniard1593
dirk1599
bestab1600
poach1602
stiletto1613
stocka1640
inrun1653
stoccado1677
dagger1694
whip1699
bayonetc1700
tomahawk1711
stug1722
chiv1725
kittle1786
sabre1790
halberd1825
jab1825
skewer1837
sword1863
poke1866
spear1869
whinger1892
pig-stick1902
shiv1926
society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > cut of sharp weapon > cut or penetrate (of weapon) [verb (transitive)] > strike with pointed weapon
prickOE
pritchOE
snese?c1225
threstc1275
stokea1300
bearc1330
stangc1340
broach1377
foinc1380
borea1400
dag?a1400
gorea1400
gridea1400
slot?a1400
staira1400
through-girdc1405
thrustc1410
runc1425
to run throughc1425
traversec1425
spitc1430
through-seeka1500
to run in1509
stab1530
to stab (a person) in1530
accloy1543
push1551
stoga1572
poacha1616
stocka1640
stoccado1677
stug1722
kittle1820
skewer1837
pitchfork1854
poke1866
chib1973
1551 R. Robinson tr. T. More Vtopia sig. Li You shulde haue sene children..digge and pushe their mothers vnder the sides.
1694 tr. F. Martens Voy. Spitzbergen in Acct. Several Late Voy. (1711) ii. 160 For the most part they do not much mind where they launce or push them [sc. whales].
1728 C. Cibber Vanbrugh's Provok'd Husband iv. i. 63 Man. Right! there you pusht him home.
3. intransitive. Of an ox, cow, etc.: to thrust or butt with the head or horns. Also transitive: to butt (someone or something); = put v. 1c. In early use chiefly in biblical contexts; Welsh English in later use. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > by habits or actions > habits and actions > [verb (intransitive)] > thrust or strike with head or horns
push1533
note1555
butt1579
the world > animals > by habits or actions > habits and actions > [verb (transitive)] > thrust or gore with horn
putc1450
gore?1530
burt?1567
butt1590
horn1599
push1611
hipe1669
engage1694
sticka1896
1533 T. More 2nd Pt. Confut. Tyndals Answere viii. p. ccccxxvi It is no newe thynge a madde wilde bull to runne out at rouers, and push at every man that he meteth.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Exod. xxi. 29 Yf the oxe haue bene vsed to push in tymes past. [So 1611; 1885 R.V. gore.]
1535 Bible (Coverdale) 2 Chron. xviii. 10 With these [horns] shalt thou puszshe at the Syrians [1611 King James push the Syrians; 1952 R.S.V. push the Syrians; 1961 New Eng. gore the Aramaeans], tyll thou brynge them to naughte.
1589 L. Wright Hunting of Antichrist 20 Such fatte pampered Weathers or Rammes of the flocke as will not bee ruled, but resist and push agaynst their sheepeheard.
1611 Bible (King James) Exod. xxi. 32 If the ox shall push [1535 Coverdale gorre] a manservant or a maidservant. View more context for this quotation
1628 G. Wither Britain's Remembrancer viii. 254 Some..Who (like the beasts that over-gamesome be) Doe push their weaker brethren with their hornes.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 106 They fence, they push, and pushing loudly roar. View more context for this quotation
1790 E. Burke Refl. Revol. in France 344 They..blindfold themselves, like bulls that shut their eyes when they push . View more context for this quotation
1888 E. Laws Hist. Little Eng. beyond Wales App. 421 [Pembrokeshire] Push, to butt like a cow.
4.
a. transitive. To extend or move (oneself, or a limb, organ, etc.) in a particular direction by, or as if by, the exertion of effort; to put or thrust in, into, on, out, through, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > posture > action or fact of stretching body > stretch [verb (transitive)] > specific part of body > in some direction, purposefully
to put forthc1300
thrustc1374
to put outa1382
proferc1400
outstretcha1425
to hold out1535
outhold1550
push1581
intend1601
stick1607
protrude1638
poke1700
blurt1818
1581 J. Studley tr. Seneca Hercules Oetæus v, in T. Newton et al. tr. Seneca 10 Trag. f. 212v A spreading Oake of Chaon big..did beyonde the woode his braunches push.
1595 G. Markham Most Honorable Trag. Sir R. Grinuile sig. F2 Sad Cassiopea, with a heauie cheare Pusht forth her forehead.
1614 D. Dyke Myst. Selfe-deceiuing xxvii. 320 Some like snailes push out their hornes, till they be touched.
1771 T. Smollett Humphry Clinker (1815) 41 I am persuaded, that my hind..or any man of equal strength, would be able to push his foot through the strongest part of their walls.
1826 W. Kirby & W. Spence Introd. Entomol. IV. 308 Feeders retracted..when in a perfect mouth the Trophi are not capable of being much pushed out or drawn in.
1887 J. Payn Holiday Tasks 65 His face became a bluish-purple and his eyes slowly pushed themselves out of his head.
1894 R. Bridges Feast of Bacchus i. 376 What has he to do to push his nose into our affairs?
1913 J. J. McGraw How to play Baseball (1914) xi. 131 If he is pushing his hands down toward the ground you know he means that there is going to be a play at the bag.
1922 A. S. M. Hutchinson This Freedom ii. 23 He swung round and pushed his dark face and jutty nose into the face of Bolas.
1976 A. Budrys To Civilize in Galactic Empires Vol. II 70 He pushed himself back from the rail and slid rapidly down the ramp.
1997 A. Perry Whited Sepulchres vii. 241 He pushed his hands into his pockets and strode across the busy street.
2000 D. Adebayo My Once upon Time (2001) x. 222 She had hitherto maintained a look of mild amusement, but now she pushed out her lips and nodded, impressed.
b. transitive. Of a plant: to send out (a shoot, root, etc.); to put forth (fruit). Frequently with forth, out, up. Also in figurative context.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > by growth or development > grow, sprout, or bear fruit [verb (transitive)] > sprout or put forth new growth
cast1340
burgeon1382
shoot1526
sprit1559
sprout1574
to put forth1592
to cast forth1611
to put out1614
emit1660
push1676
tiller1677
to throw out1733
to throw up1735
tillerate1762
flush1877
1676 M.D. tr. F. Bacon Novum Organon 30 If any one will but take a tender branch that grows, and turn the top towards the ground,..it will push forth a Root and not a Branch.
1727 P. Blair Pharmaco-botanologia vii. 311 The Fig-Tree pushing forth her Buds.
a1774 A. Tucker Light of Nature Pursued (1777) III. iii. xxi. 259 [To] manifest its vigour by continual efforts to push forth more fruit of good works.
1786 J. Abercrombie Gardeners Daily Assistant 32 In melon plants pushing runners: pinch off the end of the runners.
1803 T. R. Malthus Ess. Princ. Population (new ed.) i. vi. 66 Young scions are then pushed out from the parent stock, and instructed..to gain happier seats for themselves by their swords.
1849 Florist 252 To encourage the plants to push fresh roots.
1891 E. A. Allen High-top Sweeting 70 One of my rose-trees fair Pushed its red shoots, as if the spring were here.
1944 W. de la Mare Coll. Rhymes & Verses 73 The seeds..Have pushed up pygmy Shoots of green.
1975 Budget (Sugarcreek, Ohio) 20 Mar. 12/8 Our rhubarb is peeping up through the manure, and fruit trees are pushing buds.
2005 Dunoon Observer & Argyllshire Standard 15 July 6/1 One..pushed out a long runner... When last seen, it had reached the dizzy height of five feet.
c. intransitive. To stick or poke out or up, to project. Now chiefly of a plant or stem (cf. put v. 6a(b)). Frequently with out, up.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > unevenness > projection or prominence > project or be prominent [verb (intransitive)]
tootc897
shootc1000
to come outOE
abuta1250
to stand outc1330
steek?c1335
risea1398
jutty14..
proferc1400
strutc1405
to stick upa1500
issuec1515
butt1523
to stick outc1540
jut1565
to run out1565
jet1593
gag1599
poke1599
proke1600
boke1601
prosiliate1601
relish1611
shoulder1611
to stand offa1616
protrude1704
push1710
projecta1712
protend1726
outstand1755
shove1850
outjut1851
extrude1852
bracket1855
to corbel out1861
to set out1892
pier1951
the world > plants > by growth or development > grow or vegetate [verb (intransitive)] > sprout or put forth new growth
spriteOE
wrideOE
brodc1175
comea1225
spirec1325
chicka1400
sprouta1400
germin?1440
germ1483
chip?a1500
spurgea1500
to put forth1530
shootc1560
spear1570
stock1574
chit1601
breward1609
pullulate1618
ysproutc1620
egerminate1623
put1623
germinate1626
sprent1647
fruticate1657
stalk1666
tiller1677
breerc1700
fork1707
to put out1731
stool1770
sucker1802
stir1843
push1855
braird1865
fibre1869
flush1877
1710 tr. P. Dionis Course Chirurg. Operations 301 The Eye when it pushes or jets out, or proceeds beyond its Orbit [Fr. L'œil lorsq'il se forjette ou qu'il sort ou qu'il deborde de son orbite], by reason of the Relaxation or Rupture of the Cornea.
1720 D. Defoe Life Capt. Singleton 43 A..Cape..pushing out a long Way into the Sea.
1786 G. Forster tr. A. Sparrman Voy. Cape Good Hope (ed. 2) I. 148 The Hottentots..use the word uynties..for the reckoning of time; always beginning the new year, whenever the uynties [sc. an edible bulb] push out of the ground.
1855 R. Browning Childe Roland xii If there pushed any ragged thistle-stalk Above its mates, the head was chopped.
1858 G. Glenny Gardener's Every-day Bk. (new ed.) 80/2 Those plants which are pushing strongly will do all the better if the ground is forked between them.
1911 F. H. Burnett Secret Garden xv. 159 There were things sprouting and pushing out from the roots of clumps of plants.
1990 N. Gordimer My Son's Story 11 Like some sudden growth pushing up after rain, these people appeared in the town on Saturdays.
5.
a. intransitive. To make one's way with force or persistence (against or as if against difficulty or opposition). Frequently with adverbs and adverbial phrases, esp. in to push on (also along): to press on, to advance with continued effort.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > [verb (intransitive)] > forcibly
shovec888
thrustc1330
crowda1415
throngc1440
thrumble?a1513
to shoulder one's way1581
to make one's way1589
bear1594
push1602
jostle1622
force1653
way1694
squeeze1704
to push one's way1716
thrutchc1837
barge1888
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > forward movement > move forward or advance [verb (intransitive)] > with persistence, effort, or urgency
shovec888
thringc893
thresta1225
wina1300
thrustc1330
pressa1375
throngc1440
wrestc1450
thrimp1513
to put forward1529
intrude1562
breast1581
shoulder1581
haggle1582
strivea1586
wrestle1591
to push on (also along)1602
elabour1606
contend1609
to put on?1611
struggle1686
worry1702
crush1755
squeege1783
battle1797
scrouge1798
sweat1856
flounder1861
pull?1863
tank1939
bulldozer1952
terrier1959
1602 tr. B. Guarini Pastor Fido iv. ii. sig. K4v At each of Siluioes actes My soule stept out, push't on with all her will.
1634 J. Russell Two Famous Pitcht Battels Lypsich & Lutzen 27 Then forward on with rage and force they push, And their fear-strucken foes soon over-rush.
1718 N. Rowe tr. Lucan Pharsalia vi. 269 Now push we on, disdain we now to fear, A thousand Wounds let ev'ry Bosom bear.
1768 J. Byron Loss of Wager in Narr. Patagonia 122 I..pushed into the next wigwam upon my hands and knees.
1804 W. Monson in Marquess Wellesley Select. Despatches (1877) 526 The enemy pushed after and many were either killed or wounded.
1806 J. Beresford Miseries Human Life I. ii. 29 Pushing through the very narrow path of a very long field of very high corn.
1850 Ld. Tennyson In Memoriam lii. 75 For fear divine philosophy Should push beyond her mark. View more context for this quotation
1865 T. Carlyle Hist. Friedrich II of Prussia V. xviii. ii. 46 Schwerin, with the gross of the Army, pushes into Mähren.
1879 J. A. Froude Cæsar xiv. 222 Cæsar, after a short rest, pushed on and came under their walls.
1892 S. R. Gardiner Student's Hist. Eng. 11 He pushed inland to the Kentish Stour.
1902 ‘M. Twain’ in Harper's Weekly 6 Dec. 5/1 Push along, cabby, push along—no great lot of time to spare.
1928 E. A. Powell Embattled Borders ix. 334 We tossed up as to whether we should spend the night in the town..or push on to Pernau.
1968 J. Irving Setting free Bears ii. 161 The Wehrmacht pushed into Yugoslavia with thirty-three divisions.
2005 Evo June 147/2 Not so good is the weather as we drive into a rainy France, but we push on at a reasonable rate.
b. transitive. to push one's way: to make one's way persistently, esp. by thrusting obstacles or opponents aside. Frequently with through, to.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > [verb (intransitive)] > forcibly
shovec888
thrustc1330
crowda1415
throngc1440
thrumble?a1513
to shoulder one's way1581
to make one's way1589
bear1594
push1602
jostle1622
force1653
way1694
squeeze1704
to push one's way1716
thrutchc1837
barge1888
society > authority > power > have power or might [verb (intransitive)] > become powerful > by thrusting obstacles or opponents aside
to push one's way1716
muscle1929
1716 Pharmacopœiæ Radcliffeanæ 40 It..suffers not the Stomach and Intestines to yield to the Weight of the Contents, which would otherwise push their Way downwards.
1771 R. Colvill Occas. Poems 11 He pushed his way across the Island.
1781 W. Cowper Expostulation 17 Whom fiery suns..Forbid in vain to push his daring way To darker climes.
1826 B. Disraeli Vivian Grey II. iii. viii. 118 I push my way into court through files of attorneys.
1884 R. W. Church Bacon iii. 61 The shrewd and supple lawyers..who unscrupulously pushed their way to preferment.
1900 S. J. Weyman Story Francis Cludde (new ed.) i. 5 Pushing my way impatiently through the maids and scullions who had flocked..to see the show.
1941 V. Woolf Between Acts 120 She was pushing her way through the crowd.
1990 B. Moore Lies of Silence vi. 116 He watched her as she pushed her way through the revolving doors.
c. intransitive. to push in: to intrude on a conversation or activity; to take a place in a queue in front of people who are already there.
ΚΠ
1811 M. Brunton Self-control (ed. 2) II. xxi. 189 ‘Does this flower never open any further?’ asked Laura, shewing one to De Courcy—‘No,’ said Lady Pelham, pushing in between them.
1857 T. Hughes Tom Brown's School Days vii. 201 ‘No, no!’ said Flashman, pushing in, ‘leave me to deal with him; we'll draw lots for it afterwards.’
1913 E. Wharton Custom of Country vii. 88 ‘Who's there? Oh, that you, Mrs Lipscomb? Well, I don't know as you can—Undie isn't half-dressed yet—’ ‘Just like her—always pushing in!’ Undine murmured.
1994 N. Parker Parkhurst Tales v. 52 They, too, had the hump with Bob pushing in all the time.
2003 R. J. Watts Politeness ii. 27 It is your turn next, but before you can even begin to order your ticket, someone pushes in in front of you.
6.
a. transitive. To propel (a boat) away from the shore, or along with an oar, pole, etc.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > directing or managing a ship > direct or manage ship [verb (transitive)] > in specific manner
shoota1450
run1533
to shoot toc1540
push1657
to crowd (a ship) off1743
sweat1890
surf1965
1657 J. Davies tr. H. D'Urfé Astrea II. 172 Bellaris being their conductor, pushed the Boat from the shore.
1712 T. Parnell in Spectator No. 501. ⁋3 The Boat was push'd off, the Sheet was spread.
1766 C. Anstey New Bath Guide xi. vi. 79 Poor Stephen, went suddenly forth in a Pique, And push'd off his Boat for the Stygian Creek.
1824 E. Atherstone Midsummer Day's Dream 11 The fishermen upon a distant beach Were launching their dark boats. Some, just push'd off, Went gliding on like swans.
1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. To Push, to move a vessel by poles.
1878 T. A. Palmer Insured at Lloyd's i. i. 15 Takes oar to push off boat as Scene closes.
1915 F. W. Denys Our Summer in Vale of Kashmir xxii. 189 They would all..thrust their poles in where the water was not too deep and would push the boat along.
1999 L. X. H. Lee & S. Wiles Women of Long March ii. ii. 46 She quickly pushed the boat off and, emboldened by the short stretch of water between them, began to lecture the men.
2003 Observer 19 Oct. i. 22/3 Thin boats pushed along by fishermen with bamboo poles.
b. intransitive. Of a person (sometimes also of the boat): to propel oneself away from the bank or shore, to move out into open water; frequently in to push off. In extended use: to begin a game, etc. (rare).
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > launching a vessel > be launched [verb (intransitive)] > push away from shore
shoveOE
to push off1726
the world > action or operation > undertaking > beginning action or activity > begin action or activity [verb (intransitive)]
beginc1000
onginOE
aginOE
ginc1175
to go tillc1175
to take onc1175
comsea1225
fanga1225
to go toc1275
i-ginc1275
commencec1320
to get (also get down, go, go adown, set, set down) to workc1400
to lay to one's hand(sc1405
to put to one's hand (also hands)c1410
to set toc1425
standa1450
to make to1563
to fall to it1570
to start out1574
to fall to1577
to run upon ——1581
to break off1591
start1607
to set in1608
to set to one's hands1611
to put toa1616
to fall ona1625
in1633
to fall aboard1642
auspicatea1670
to set out1693
to enter (into) the fray1698
open1708
to start in1737
inchoate1767
to set off1774
go1780
start1785
to on with1843
to kick off1857
to start in on1859
to steam up1860
to push off1909
to cut loose1923
to get (also put) the show on the road1941
to get one's arse in gear1948
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away [verb (intransitive)]
wendeOE
i-wite971
ashakec975
shakeOE
to go awayOE
witea1000
afareOE
agoOE
atwendOE
awayOE
to wend awayOE
awendOE
gangOE
rimeOE
flitc1175
to fare forthc1200
depart?c1225
part?c1225
partc1230
to-partc1275
biwitec1300
atwitea1325
withdrawa1325
to draw awayc1330
passc1330
to turn one's (also the) backc1330
lenda1350
begonec1370
remuea1375
voidc1374
removec1380
to long awaya1382
twinc1386
to pass one's wayc1390
trussc1390
waive1390
to pass out ofa1398
avoida1400
to pass awaya1400
to turn awaya1400
slakec1400
wagc1400
returnc1405
to be gonea1425
muck1429
packc1450
recede1450
roomc1450
to show (a person) the feetc1450
to come offc1475
to take one's licence1475
issue1484
devoidc1485
rebatea1500
walka1500
to go adieua1522
pikea1529
to go one's ways1530
retire?1543
avaunt1549
to make out1558
trudge1562
vade?1570
fly1581
leave1593
wag1594
to get off1595
to go off1600
to put off1600
shog1600
troop1600
to forsake patch1602
exit1607
hence1614
to give offa1616
to take off1657
to move off1692
to cut (also slip) the painter1699
sheera1704
to go about one's business1749
mizzle1772
to move out1792
transit1797–1803
stump it1803
to run away1809
quit1811
to clear off1816
to clear out1816
nash1819
fuff1822
to make (take) tracks (for)1824
mosey1829
slope1830
to tail out1830
to walk one's chalks1835
to take away1838
shove1844
trot1847
fade1848
evacuate1849
shag1851
to get up and get1854
to pull out1855
to cut (the) cable(s)1859
to light out1859
to pick up1872
to sling one's Daniel or hook1873
to sling (also take) one's hook1874
smoke1893
screw1896
shoot1897
voetsak1897
to tootle off1902
to ship out1908
to take a (run-out, walk-out, etc.) powder1909
to push off1918
to bugger off1922
biff1923
to fuck off1929
to hit, split or take the breeze1931
to jack off1931
to piss offa1935
to do a mick1937
to take a walk1937
to head off1941
to take a hike1944
moulder1945
to chuff off1947
to get lost1947
to shoot through1947
skidoo1949
to sod off1950
peel1951
bug1952
split1954
poop1961
mugger1962
frig1965
1726 J. Swift Gulliver II. iv. x. 163 Then getting into my Canoo, I pushed off from Shore.
1804 W. Clark Jrnl. 27 May in Jrnls. Lewis & Clark Exped. (1986) II. 260 As we were pushing off this Morning two Canoos Loaded with fur &c. Came to from the Mahars nation.
1815 T. D. Cowdell Poet. Acct. Amer. Campaigns 53 In their boats again, the heroes stood, And push'd triumphant from their native shore.
1836 W. Irving Astoria III. 227 As M'Kenzie's canoes were about to push off.
1839 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece (new ed.) IV. 119 The two Athenian galleys suddenly pushed out.
1865 J. Thomson Sunday up River v. ii We push off from the bank.
1909 N.E.D. We're all ready to play; push off!
1918 K. E. Harriman Wine, Women & War (1926) 39 Grand day to be pushing off for Bordeaux.
1976 National Observer (U.S.) 26 June 16/4 A man in a small sailboat pushes away from the shore of the Atlantic and never is seen again.
1993 Canoe Mar. 32/1 We secured our gear, snapped our spraydeck over it, and pushed off.
c. transitive. colloquial. to push off (also along): to depart, leave, go away. Frequently in imperative. Also occasionally with ellipsis of adverb.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > causing to go away > command to go away [verb (intransitive)]
scud1602
go scrape!1611
to push off (also along)1740
to go it1797
to walk one's chalks1835
morris1838
scat1838
go 'long1859
to take a walk1881
shoot1897
skidoo1905
to beat it1906
to go to the dickens1910
to jump (or go (and) jump) in the lake1912
scram1928
to piss offa1935
to bugger off1937
to fuck off1940
go and have a roll1941
eff1945
to feck off?1945
to get lost1947
to sod off1950
bug1956
to hit, split or take the breeze1959
naff1959
frig1965
muck1974
to rack off1975
society > travel > aspects of travel > departure, leaving, or going away > depart, leave, or go away [verb (intransitive)]
to come awayeOE
wendeOE
i-wite971
ashakec975
shakeOE
to go awayOE
witea1000
afareOE
agoOE
awayOE
dealc1000
goOE
awendOE
rimeOE
to go one's wayOE
flitc1175
depart?c1225
partc1230
to-partc1275
atwitea1325
withdrawa1325
to turn one's (also the) backc1330
lenda1350
begonec1370
remuea1375
removec1380
to long awaya1382
twinc1386
to pass one's wayc1390
trussc1390
to turn awaya1400
returnc1405
to be gonea1425
recede1450
roomc1450
to come offc1475
to take one's licence1475
issue1484
walka1500
to go adieua1522
pikea1529
avaunt1549
trudge1562
vade?1570
discoast1571
leave1593
wag1594
to go off1600
troop1600
hence1614
to set on one's foota1616
to pull up one's stumps1647
quit1811
to clear out1816
slope1830
to walk one's chalks1835
shove1844
to roll out1850
to pull out1855
to light out1859
to take a run-out powder1909
to push off (also along)1923
1740 Proc. Sessions of Peace London & Middlesex May 164/1 He..heard somebody a cursing and swearing, and a Woman..say, d——n it, push off, or go off.
1824 S. T. Coleridge Coll. Lett. (1971) V. 398 I must push off, & hear the Pier News.
1923 P. G. Wodehouse Inimitable Jeeves xvii. 241 He helped himself absently to a handful of my cigars and pushed off.
1931 A. Christie Sittaford Myst. xxiii. 192 I shall be pushing along now. So long.
1949 J. B. Priestley Delight 231 This is my view, not yours. Push off!
1955 G. Freeman Liberty Man i. i. 21 Goodnight, Maur. I'll be pushin'. I've 'ad a day.
1975 R. Pilcher Day of Storm ii. 32 ‘Then push off,’ he said. ‘I've got enough to do without wasting my time running a private Tell Auntie column.’
1992 London Rev. Bks. 26 Mar. 14/4 Its owners push off to England when the problems of keeping it up get too much.
II. Of action other than physical.
7.
a. transitive. To pursue, prosecute, or follow up (an action or operation) with vigour and insistence; to urge, press (a claim, point, etc.). Formerly frequently with †forward, †on. Also intransitive in early use (cf. also sense 10a).
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > carry on vigorously [verb (transitive)]
driveOE
to drive through1523
push1561
urge1565
to fall aboard1642
whack1719
beef1860
the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > carry on vigorously [verb (transitive)] > press forward or urge vigorously
press1489
push1561
to drive on1642
1561 in Cal. State Papers Scotl. (1898) I. 587 [Seeing these two princesses are] thus far entred in amity [I pray you let us not] weary to pousse fordwart [till they have met].
a1600 J. Melvill Autobiogr. & Diary (1842) 385 The king, finding this vantage and occasioun, pousses fordwart the sam.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Winter's Tale (1623) ii. i. 181 Camillo's flight..doth push-on this proceeding. View more context for this quotation
1693 G. Powell Very Good Wife i. 6 I so push'd on the Frolick, that I durst be hang'd if I had not tempted her to Signing and Sealing, without the Ceremony of a Black Coat.
1695 Whether Parl. be not Dissolved 57 The People want bravour to push the Defence of their Liberties.
1701 W. Wotton Hist. Rome iii. 52 Marcus was for pushing on his Blow.
a1720 W. Sewel Hist. Quakers (1722) iv. 198 Since the Churchmen pushed on so wicked a Business.
1777 R. Watson Hist. Reign Philip II II. xiii. 415 If..the Spanish commander..had pushed his operations with proper vigour, he must certainly have made himself master of the town.
1827 Examiner 275/2 Such pupils..as chose to push their studies.
1871 R. Ellis tr. Catullus Poems lxiv. 85 So..Push'd he his onward journey to Minos' haughty dominion.
1952 Sun (Baltimore) 22 Mar. 6/4 Even if steelworkers push their productivity, a very large share of their production goes..into war materials.
1966 A. Sachs Jail Diary iii. 34 He only asked one question all the time, and did not even push that one.
1981 M. Moorcock Byzantium Endures v. 128 I had learned tact in Odessa, so I did not push the point.
b. transitive. To extend or increase (an action or operation) in time or space; to develop further afield.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > continuing > progress, advance, or further continuance > advance (a proceeding) from previous stage [verb (transitive)] > carry to a farther or spec. limit > to extend operations
push1793
1793 T. Jefferson Let. 28 June in G. Washington Papers (2007) Presidential Ser. XIII. 153 I mean in a farm of about 500. acres..to push the number of sheep.
1840 A. Alison Hist. Europe from French Revol. VIII. lxii. 364 The approaches were pushed with great rapidity.
1872 J. Yeats Growth Commerce 94 They pushed their trade to still more distant parts.
1884 Manch. Examiner 27 May 5/1 Hitherto Russia has been pushing her conquests in a region where there is no well-established authority and no clear boundaries.
1971 Pacific Stars & Stripes 14 Mar. 3/4 The Colombo family is reputed to have now pushed its interests into Long Island, Manhattan, New Jersey, the Bahamas and London.
2006 FD Wire (Nexis) 1 Aug. We will be developing leaders who are capable of really pushing the business into Eastern Europe.
c. transitive. To move (a boundary, limit, etc.) so as to encompass a larger area; (also figurative) to approach or go beyond (previously accepted limits or boundaries). Frequently with back, forward, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > extension in space > expansion or enlargement > expand or enlarge [verb (transitive)] > boundaries
enlargec1400
enlargissec1448
extend1574
push1845
the world > movement > impelling or driving > pushing and pulling > push and pull [verb (transitive)] > push > surpass or go beyond in pushing
push1845
out-push1847
outshove1936
1845 W. A. Caruthers Knights of Horse-shoe II. xxii. 213 May the ‘Tramontane Order’ push the boundaries of his empire in America to the banks of the Mississippi.
1885 Dict. National Biogr. at Athelstan In West Wales or Damnonia he also pushed forward the West-Saxon boundary.
1910 E. M. Forster Howards End xiv ‘It wasn't foolish!’ cried Helen, her eyes aflame. ‘You've pushed back the boundaries; I think it splendid of you.’
1951 ‘J. Wyndham’ Day of Triffids ii. 30 Every year we were pushing the northern limit of growth for food plants a little further back.
1989 Sound Choice Autumn 86/2 Pink Floyd..were pushing the boundaries of distorted music to its melodic, and amelodic, limit.
2002 Sport Fishing June 38/1 It used to be that a 4/0- or 5/0-size reel really would push the limits of graphite.
8. transitive. To compel, urge, or incite (a person) to do something or follow some course of action; to egg on. Chiefly with infinitive or adverbial phrase (with into, to, †upon, etc.).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > motivation > motivate [verb (transitive)] > incite or instigate > drive, impel, or incite
enforce1542
pulsec1550
carry1570
pusha1578
propel1830
drive1838
a1578 R. Lindsay Hist. & Cron. Scotl. (1899) II. 95 His wickit and ewill consall..allurit him and puffit [v.r. poussit] him fast fordwart to fight witht Inglischemen.
1581 R. Mulcaster Positions xxxix. 204 Officious thankefullnes in the profited hearer doth worthely and well push him still on forward.
1640 R. Baillie Ladensium Αὐτοκατάκρισις iii. 48 Nothing..but that which conscience would pouse any man upon all hazards to avow.
1641 J. Milton Of Reformation 61 That men should bee..push't forward to gaming, jigging, wassailing, and mixt dancing is a horror to think.
1694 J. Locke Ess. Humane Understanding (new ed.) ii. xxi. 135 A little burning felt pushes us more powerfully, than greater pleasures in prospect draw or allure.
1705 tr. W. Bosman New Descr. Coast of Guinea xviii. 332 Pushed on by the King of Ardra, he marched against the People of Fida.
1722 D. Defoe Jrnl. Plague Year 113 Apprehensions..that Desparation should push the People upon Tumults.
1730 A. Gordon tr. F. S. Maffei Compl. Hist. Anc. Amphitheatres 249 Then..might the Wild-Beasts be seen pushed on to fight.
1761 D. Hume Hist. Eng. II. xxviii. 138 He pushed his master to seek an occasion of quarrel with that monarch.
1812 J. Baillie Siege iii. ii 'Tis a strange thing that women, who can't fight themselves, should so eagerly push us to the work.
1862 E. M. Goulburn Thoughts Pers. Relig. II. iii. xi. 246 Shrinking from being pushed to greater lengths in Religion than we are prepared to go.
1926 S. Jameson Three Kingdoms vi. 162 ‘This’, said Caroline, ‘is altogether too much.’.. ‘You push me to it.’
1991 J. Richardson Life of Picasso I. v. 75 Don José did well to push his son into religious painting.
1997 M. Viroli For Love of Country i. 30 It, rather, pushed him to try to understand the larger horizons of Italian and European politics.
9.
a. transitive. To impel or urge on (a horse, etc.) to greater speed; (in extended use) to drive (any animal, vessel, or vehicle) forward beyond the natural limits of speed or endurance; esp. to accelerate (a car) vigorously or excessively. Also with along, †forth, on.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > transport > riding on horse (or other animal) > ride (a horse or other animal) [verb (transitive)] > urge on
streeka1500
push1590
put1590
whigc1667
cramc1830
to call upon ——1842
double-thong1856
giddap1938
society > travel > transport > transport or conveyance in a vehicle > driving or operating a vehicle > drive a vehicle [verb (transitive)] > drive a motor vehicle > drive fast
to let out1938
push1962
fang1981
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene iii. i. 17 His tyreling Jade he fiersly forth did push Through thicke and thin, both over banck and bush.
1699 A. Boyer Royal Dict. (at cited word) To push (or put) on a Horse, Pousser, lancer, piquer un Cheval.
1735 W. Somervile Chace iii. 445 As I behold Each lovely nymph..Push on the gen'rous steed.
1790 A. W. Radcliffe Sicilian Romance II. viii. 14 Their uncommon speed alarmed her, and she pushed her horse into a gallop.
1832 F. H. Standish Maid of Jaen 18 The steeds with urgent speed were push'd 'Till lost in distance all was hush'd.
1845 A. M. Hall Whiteboy I. iv. 56 The car-driver managed to push his poor starveling to a canter.
1907 Daily Chron. 14 Sept. 5/2 Mr. Cunard denied that there had been any effort whatever to push the vessel [sc. the Lusitania].
1911 H. B. Wright Winning of Barbara Worth xxix. 411 Give your horse a drink but don't wait to rest. You can push him from now on as hard as you like.
1962 Which? Car Suppl. Oct. 118/2 It was the back wheels which eventually broke away if the car was pushed too far.
1972 ‘I. Drummond’ Frog in Moonflower 18 The driver pushed the bus along... It was doing well over sixty now.
1988 Equestrian World June 32/1 He tends to get in very close to jumps, and does sometimes need pushing on into them.
†b. transitive. To force (a thing) into more intense action. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > carry on vigorously [verb (transitive)] > make vigorous or energetic > make more active or intense > force into more intense action
push1756
1756 P. Browne Civil & Nat. Hist. Jamaica ii. i. 41 Orpiment..when pushed by a strong fire, yields a great quantity of acrid volatile particles.
1797 Encycl. Brit. IV. 603 By pushing the heat after the oil comes over.
1839 A. Ure Dict. Arts 805 The fire, at first moderate, is pushed till the cucurbits are red hot.
c. transitive. With up, down, etc. To change the number, value, or amount of (a price, quantity, etc.).
ΚΠ
1829 Times 20 Feb. 3/2 The house of Rothschild are said to be using every possible contrivance with the view of pushing up the price of the 5 per Cents. to the desired rate.
1863 Janesville (Wisconsin) Daily Gaz. 11 Aug. The same causes which have heretofore existed to sharpen competition and push up prices must exist and operate hereafter.
1897 Polit. Sci. Q. 12 261 This confidence..bred demand; and renewed demand pushed prices higher and higher.
1912 Q. Jrnl. Econ. 27 102 The price of the finished product cannot be pushed up to compensate for the higher cost of production.
1948 Hansard 445 1648 The policy of the Ministry..has been to push up the milling of oats in England.
1968 Times 12 July 29/7 The massive defence of the pound and the franc..were major factors pushing the price down.
1988 Sun 14 Oct. 13 Their deaths pushed the number of executions..this year to 103.
2005 Pittsburg (Pa.) Post-Gaz. (Nexis) 26 Mar. a14 Borrowing to cover the deficit pours more billions into the market, pushing up prices and, at the same time, pushing up interest rates.
d. transitive. Chiefly Music. To extend or force (the voice) beyond the normal range, volume, or level of ability. Also: to project (the voice).
ΚΠ
1904 N.Y. Times 10 Jan. iii. 21/6 Several of the leading singers, too, have been overworked, and have been led to push their voices perilously close to the danger line of strain and stress.
1941 Peabody Jrnl. Educ. 19 150 Some of the suggestions made by the ‘specialists’ were:..‘I can't hear the ends of your words’..; ‘Push your voice a little more’.
1994 M. S. Benninger et al. Vocal Arts Med. xiii. 174 Talking over the background din of talkers, it is easy to push the voice into yelling without realizing it until attempting to talk the next morning.
2006 Daily Tel. (Nexis) 8 July (Art section) 10 Occasionally he pushes his highish-register voice into screechy no-go zones, but for the most part it's just lovely.
e. transitive. Bridge. To try to force (an opponent) into a higher and more doubtful contract by overcalling him or her. Also intransitive.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > card game > bridge > [verb (transitive)] > actions or tactics
declare1895
promote1899
to lead up to1911
to take out1918
squeeze1926
push1927
spread1929
cash1934
overtake1939
underlead1945
finesse1960
1927 M. C. Work Contract Bridge 149 Push, to overbid for the purpose of inducing the opponents to assume a losing contract.
1934 G. F. Hervey Mod. Contract Bridge xxii. 247 If you know a player is determined to play every hand, you can ‘push’ much more successfully against him than against the player who knows when to leave off bidding and when to double.
1959 Listener 24 Dec. 1118/2 When East accepted the invitation to game he was pushed beyond game.
1998 Eng. Bridge Aug. 27/1 The Hackett twins bid a no-play slam and then pushed their opponents into game and failed to find the winning defence.
f. transitive. Photography. To use (film) as if its speed is greater than its rated speed, in anticipation of a compensatory process at development (cf. push processing n. at push- comb. form 2).
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > photography > photographic processes > [verb (transitive)]
daguerreotype1849
calotype1853
reversal process1961
push1966
push process1977
1954 Indiana (Pa.) Evening Gaz. 29 Jan. 5/3 The greatest activity in the field of pushing film speeds beyond their normal ratings has been in the 35mm field.]
1966 Daily Times-News (Burlington, North Carolina) 17 Mar. 30/3 The film must be handled by those commercial labs which do custom processing..so that instructions might be given to ‘push’ the film as needed.
1970 Light & Film iv. 130/1 When a photographer intentionally underexposes a picture, he ‘pushes’ the film; he simply assumes that it is more sensitive than it really.
1979 Amateur Photographer 10 Jan. 90/1 A black and white negative film such as Tri-X or HP5 can be pushed quite easily to 1600 or 3200ASA.
2004 C. Weston Essent. Lighting Man. for Digital & Film Photographers 116/2 A facility for altering your film speed setting manually. This allows you to ‘push’ your films—to make them work at faster ISO rating than they are calibrated for.
10.
a. intransitive. To make a strenuous effort or endeavour; to seek something actively; to strive †at or †after; to be urgent in request or persuasion; to demand persistently, press for.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > endeavour > attempt [verb (transitive)] > strive for or after
tilla900
strivea1300
aswinkc1300
ofswinkc1300
forstrivec1315
beswink1377
to follow after ——c1390
hacka1450
ontilla1450
prosecutea1530
to scratch for1581
ettle1592
push1595
the mind > language > speech > request > make a request [verb (intransitive)] > urgently or persistently
pressa1425
instandc1450
to put at ——1534
importune1548
push1595
to put upon ——a1617
drum1833
what-the-hell1924
opportune1941
1595 S. Daniel First Fowre Bks. Ciuile Warres i. xxx. sig. C2 What h'had done In great exploits his mind did eleuate..Which made him push at what his issue gate.
1601 in F. Moryson Itinerary (1617) ii. ii. ii. 171 The King of Spaine meanes to make this place [sc. Kinsale] the seate of the Warre..[in order] to push for England.
a1652 A. Wilson Swisser (1904) i. ii. 20 Ariol. I'le beare A full saile in this calmenes of my Life, Which no rude storme shall threaten. Andru. But I'le push for't.
1700 W. Congreve Way of World iii. i. 36 Will he be Importunate Foible, and push?
1719 D. Defoe Farther Adventures Robinson Crusoe 348 I had no Occasion to push at a Winter Journey of this kind.
1728 A. Ramsay Poems II. 184 Macsomno pushes after Praise.
1738 D. Neal Hist. Puritans IV. 88 While the Presbyterians were pushing for their Covenant uniformity.
1765 L. Sterne Life Tristram Shandy VII. xxviii. 101 By pushing at something beyond that, I have brought myself into such a situation, as [etc.].
1844 G. Dodd Textile Manuf. Great Brit. i. 13 The manner in which the manufacturers ‘pushed’ for orders.
1920 Times 9 Jan. 9/2 Signor Nitti has made a mistake by pushing for an immediate solution.
1975 N.Y. Times 10 Apr. 29/2 Former Governor Terry Sanford reportedly was one of the men pushing hardest for the primary repeal.
1989 Internat. Business Week 6 Mar. 22/3 Venezuela is pushing to double aluminium output to 1·2 million metric tons in the mid-1990s.
2006 Daily Tel. 11 May 25/4 Fertility experts are now pushing for the NHS to fund PGD.
b. transitive. colloquial. To approach (a particular age or amount).
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > source or principle of life > age > [verb (transitive)] > approach an age
to go on ——1567
touch1851
push1869
crowd1943
squeeze1976
1869 J. S. Le Fanu Wyvern Myst. iii. xv. 195 I'm pushin' sixty, and I should be wise.
1937 S. V. Benét in Sat. Evening Post 18 Sept. 42/4 I'd kind of like to beat out Ike Leavis... To hear him talk, you'd think nobody had ever pushed ninety before.
1953 R. Chandler Long Good-bye xxiii. 148 When you're young..you can absorb a lot of punishment. When you are pushing forty you don't snap back the same way.
1979 J. Raban Arabia through Looking Glass vii. 262 The sun was up, the temperature was pushing ninety degrees.
1988 Compl. Angler's Guide Summer 31/1 I've had some tremendous fish pushing 30 pounds on bought feathers.
2003 C. Birch Turn again Home v. 70 She was no spring chicken. Pushing forty if she was a day when she met Walter Moss, though she didn't look it at all.
11. transitive. To carry out (a matter, action, principle, etc.) to a further point, or to the furthest limit; to press to a conclusion. Frequently with through.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > continuing > progress, advance, or further continuance > advance (a proceeding) from previous stage [verb (transitive)] > carry to a farther or spec. limit
go1577
carrya1631
push1676
the world > action or operation > completing > complete (an action or piece of work) [verb (transitive)] > bring to an end or conclusion > by force
push1888
bulldozer1945
1676 J. Dryden Aureng-Zebe ii. 24 How criminal soe'r we Husbands are, 'Tis not for Wives to push our crimes too far.
1688 E. Stillingfleet Doctr. Trinity & Transubstant. (ed. 2) 8 I am resolved to push this matter now as far as it will go.
1713 J. Addison in Guardian 18 Aug. 1/1 I think they have pushed this matter a little too far.
1749 J. Cleland Mem. Woman of Pleasure II. 248 He was proceeding then amazingly to push it to a third triumph.
1779 Mirror No. 45. ⁋7 He must push to excess every species of extravagant dissipation.
1839 J. Yeowell Anc. Brit. Church (1847) i. 4 If we push our investigations to an earlier period.
1856 R. W. Emerson Eng. Traits ix. 146 Individual right is pushed to the uttermost bound compatible with public order.
1876 J. R. Green Stray Stud. Eng. & Italy 7 That peculiar temper..which declines to push conclusions to extremes.
1888 J. Bryce Amer. Commonw. I. xxxii. 489 If it [sc. a measure] is not pressing, neither party..cares to take it up and push it through.
a1894 R. L. Stevenson Amateur Emigrant (1895) 32 I have never seen decorum pushed so far.
1936 W. H. Saumarez Smith Let. 20 Dec. in Young Man's Country (1977) ii. 47 There is some opposition.., but we're pushing the scheme through.
1977 C. R. Stecyk Truth or Consequences in Dogtown (2000) 78 The jig was up; the Dog Brothers figured that they had pushed it further than they should.
1991 Economist 13 July 28/2 (heading) The government looks determined to push through a retrenchment of the armed forces that will affect almost every aspect of defence spending.
12.
a. transitive. To advance or try to advance or promote; to urge or press the adoption, use, practice, sale, or acceptance of (a thing); to work for the advancement or promotion of (a person). Formerly frequently with forward, off, on; now usually without adverb.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > continuing > progress, advance, or further continuance > furtherance > further [verb (transitive)]
furtherc888
to bring onc1230
advancea1250
speeda1300
nourishc1300
avaunt1393
promotec1433
pasture?a1439
advantage?1459
promove1475
preferc1503
conduce1518
to set forth1528
to set forward(s)1530
to take forth1530
fillip1551
help1559
farther1570
foster1571
shoulder1577
to put forward1579
seconda1586
foment1596
hearten1598
to put on1604
fomentate1613
succeed1613
expeditea1618
producea1618
maturate1623
cultivate1641
encourage1677
push1693
forward1780
progress1780
admove1839
society > communication > information > publishing or spreading abroad > advertising > advertise [verb (transitive)]
push1693
advertise1710
promote1902
sell1916
market1922
merchandise1957
the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > promotion or help forward > promote or help forward (a person, plan, etc.) [verb (transitive)]
furtherc888
fremeOE
filsenc1175
fosterc1175
speeda1240
theec1250
advancec1300
upraisea1340
increasec1380
forthbearc1400
exploit?a1439
aid1502
to set forward(s)1530
farther1570
facilite1585
to set forthward1588
forward1598
facilitate1599
accommodate1611
succeed1613
bespeed1615
to set (a person) on (also upon) his (also her, etc.) legs1632
subserve1645
push1758
support1779
leg up1817
1693 J. Kettlewell Of Christian Communion ii. iv. 42 The Council of Constantinople..excepts the Case of Heretical Prelates promoting or pushing on any Heresies.
1714 R. Fiddes Pract. Disc. (ed. 2) II. 31 Journalists [are] employ'd to push and forward it.
1748 H. Walpole Let. 12 Jan. in Corr. (1954) XIX. 456 There is a transaction going on to send Sir Charles Williams to Turin; he has asked it, and it is pushed.
1758 S. Johnson Let. 8 Mar. (1992) I. 159 Not that I mean to impose upon you the trouble of pushing them with more importunity than may seem proper.
1814 M. Bruce Let. 10 July in I. Bruce Nun of Lebanon (1951) iii. xxi. 284 Lady Hester..advised me to spend money..as being the best way of pushing myself forward in the world.
1861 T. Hughes Tom Brown at Oxf. I. i. 6 Every one who had a son..whom he wanted to push forward in the world [etc.].
1873 Punch 26 Apr. 178/2 Why do not the managers imitate another class of persons who push off drugs by means of puffing.
1888 Pall Mall Gaz. 22 May 12/1 Pushing the sale of British goods.
1921 A. G. Empey Madonna of Hills xviii. 130 To push the sale of songs by singing them in cabarets and places.
1949 P. G. Wodehouse Uncle Dynamite xiv. 237 She was always complaining that her last publishers wouldn't push her books.
1977 Jrnl. Royal Soc. Arts 125 124/2 I think the improvement grants we have are fairly good. They need to be pushed more.
1991 Independent 16 Nov. 35/1 Three or four brewers are pushing Pils in Britain at the moment, and each is offering quite a different product.
b. transitive. To force or thrust (something) on or upon a person for attention, acceptance, or use.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > obedience > compulsion > compel [verb (transitive)] > force or impose something upon
to lay on11..
join1303
taxa1375
intruse?a1500
oversetc1500
beforcec1555
impose1581
threap1582
fasten1585
intrude1592
thrust1597
enforcea1616
forcea1616
entail1670
top1682
trump1694
push1723
coerce1790
press1797
inflict1809
levy1863
octroy1865
wish1915
1723 R. Wodrow Let. 19 Dec. in Corr. (1843) III. 99 They were not fond of having one that was in the family, and on that score pushed on them.
1752 H. Fielding Amelia IV. x. v. 61 A Sum indeed which he would not have borrowed, had not the other, like a very generous Friend, push'd it upon him.
1869 J. Martineau Ess. Philos. & Theol. 2nd Ser. 91 Physicians are too apt to push their prescriptions upon the healthy.
1889 ‘M. Twain’ Connecticut Yankee xx. 239 There was another fact..which he never pushed upon anybody unasked.
1924 Washington Post 3 Aug. (Mag. section) 8/2 He will never take to this Miss Downton that your friend has pushed upon us.
1992 E. Field Counting myself Lucky 32 For a long time, the books pushed on them were spiritual works, perhaps to get their minds off their horniness.
1994 J. Updike Brazil xxii. 174 The excess of pinga which the men mischievously pushed upon them.
c. transitive. slang (originally U.S.). To sell (drugs) illegally. Also intransitive. Cf. slightly earlier pusher n. 1f.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > selling > selling or sale of specific things > sell specific things [verb (transitive)] > sell illicit items > esp. narcotics
push1932
deal1965
supply1968
1932 L. Berg Prison Doctor 77 What was his business in prison unless he was ‘pushing’ the stuff?
1953 W. S. Burroughs Junkie ii. 33 I decided right then I would never push any more tea [sc. marijuana].
1956 ‘E. McBain’ Pusher (1959) 37 ‘How would I know..even if he was supplying himself and others besides?’ ‘Was he pushing?’
1977 ‘J. Fraser’ Hearts Ease in Death xv. 171 Was Billy Nesbitt buying amphetamines..and selling them to other kids? Was he, in fact, pushing drugs?
1999 S. Stewart Sharking i. 25 From now on he'd be back to pushing weed and coke.
13. transitive. To put pressure or strain on (a person); to bear hard upon; (in passive) to be hard-pressed through lack of time, means, etc. Frequently with for or infinitive.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > of difficulty: beset (a person) [verb (transitive)] > put (a person) in difficulty > reduce to straits
enstraita1500
plungea1513
to put or drive to a (or the) shift or shifts1553
to put (one) to (upon) his trump or trumps1559
to drive (a person) near1594
to put, drive, reduce, etc. to the last shiftsa1604
to be hard (also sorely, etc.) put to ita1616
press1672
pinch1693
push1761
the world > action or operation > difficulty > present difficulties [verb (intransitive)] > be in difficulties or straits
to be hard bested?c1225
to be hard set1387
to be hard (straitly, stiffly, etc.) steada1400
to have mistera1400
charge1487
to be hard (also sorely, etc.) put to ita1616
straiten1647
to be ill set1673
press1813
to be up a gum tree1829
push1863
1761 D. Hume Hist. Eng. I. viii. 171 Henry laying hold of so plausible a pretence, resolved to push the clergy with regard to all their privileges.
?1795 Laugh when you Can 6 One of the Captains..being greatly pushed for money, and much disconcerted, went to the Colonel.
1801 W. Winstanley Hypocrite Unmask'd iii. 56 You seem much pushed for this money.
1815 J. H. Payne Trial Without Jury i, in America's Lost Plays (1940) v. 19 I came to express my regret at not having been able—but they will come back, and I am not at all pushed for time.
1863 A. Trollope in Cornhill Mag. Sept. 272 ‘They'll be very pushed about money,’ said Mr. Boyce.
1867 J. R. Browne Land of Thor iii. 43 It is dreadful to see people so hard pushed to live.
1893 W. Raymond Gentleman Upcott's Daughter ii I'm a little pushed..and I thought perhaps you'd let me have a small matter of fifteen pound.
1946 R.A.F. Jrnl. May 170 He is occasionally a little pushed by the constant stream of callers.
1967 P. Moyes Murder Fantastical xiv. 209 Sorry we can't invite you to lunch, Tibbett, but what with the funeral and the Fête..Vi's a bit pushed.
1992 Times 12 Sept. 35/8 The defending champion..will be pushed to retain the title as his form this season has been below par.
2005 Woman & Home July 94/1 If you're pushed for time, the relish is just as delicious with a simply roasted bird.
14. transitive. To change or reassign (the date or position in time) of a historical event or an upcoming event, meeting, etc., frequently to another date. Also: to reschedule (an event, meeting, etc.). Chiefly with back, forward, etc.
ΚΠ
1847 G. Grote Hist. Greece III. xxii. 470 Rochette..pushes the date of Cumæ..back to 1139 B. C... The mythes of Cumæ extended to a period preceding the Chalkidic settlement.
1904 Daily Rev. (Decatur, Illinois) 14 Nov. 9/4 He and his prospective wife decided to push the date forward two days.
1959 N.Y. Times 1 Apr. 46/2 Last year the State Legislature pushed the opening to March 28.
2005 Hotdog June 12/1 With Pixar's Cars pushed back to summer 2006 the road is wide open for the first big animovie out of the blocks this year.

Phrases

P1. Originally Scottish. to push one's (also †a) fortune: to engage actively in making one's fortune; to try one's luck. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > management of money > income, revenue, or profit > getting or making money > get or make money [verb (transitive)]
to push one's (also a) fortune1609
to draw down1890
to pile up the rocks1897
1609 S. Grahame Anat. Humors f. 30v Every one by degree doeth pouse his fortune.
1697 J. Dryden Ded. Georgics in tr. Virgil Wks. sig. ¶2v You push'd not your Fortune to rise in either.
1749 T. Smollett tr. A. R. Le Sage Gil Blas I. i. i. 3 It is high time for a brisk lad of seventeen, like thee, to push thy fortune in the world.
1863 A. W. Kinglake Invasion of Crimea I. xiii. 204 To glance at the operations of a small knot of middle-aged men who were pushing their fortunes in Paris.
1885 J. Ruskin Præterita I. v. 142 John..went soon to push his fortune in Australia.
1900 Atlanta (Georgia) Constit. 6 May (Mag. Suppl.) 9/5 The eldest and strongest..is gone to push his fortune.
1953 R. Pares King George III & Politicians i. 19 A friend at the Admiralty could do much to help a captain push his fortune.
P2. to push the bottle about and variants: to push the liquor from one person to another when drinking convivially. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > drink > providing or serving drink > [verb (transitive)] > circulate drink
troll1575
walk1581
to push the bottle about1697
send1770
birlea1800
1697 T. Brown in Earl of Rochester et al. Familiar Lett. (ed. 2) I. 195 A true Son of Bacchus never wants a good Reason to push about the Glass.
1781 J. Bentham Corr. (1968–81) III. 96 Ld. Dartry left us. It was he that pushed the bottle about.
1788 J. Woodforde Diary 20 Aug. (1927) III. 44 Mr. Atthill being Chairman pushed the Bottle about pretty briskly.
1828 C. Lamb Capt. Jackson in Elia 2nd Ser. 192 ‘Push about my boys;’ ‘Drink to your sweethearts, girls.’
1829 E. Bulwer-Lytton Disowned I. ii. 27 Come, Mim, push round the ale.
1847 L. Hunt Men, Women, & Bks. II. iv. 55 Thomson could push the bottle like a regular bon vivant.
1904 A. B. Young Life & Novels T. L. Peacock 31 The squire's chief interest in the novel..seems to be mainly ‘pushing’ the bottle round.
P3. to push a face at face n. Phrases 6b.
P4. colloquial. to push it: (a) to press one's claim strongly; (b) to go too far, to overstate the case, to expect too much.
ΚΠ
1842 S. Lover Handy Andy ii They say Tom's pushing it strong there.
1967 Valley News (Van Nuys, Calif.) 21 Mar. 2 b/3 Buick says that the Riviera has enough power to make the Rockies seem like the desert flatlands... This may be ‘pushing’ it a bit.
1977 B. Bainbridge Injury Time (1978) iii. 31 Don't push it... It's been difficult enough to persuade her to sit down with you.
1978 Listener 22 June 804/1 The airport in Philadelphia now proudly wears the legend..Welcome to Philadelphia, America's Most Liveable City. That may be pushing it a little.
2003 P. Witton et al. Indonesia (ed. 7) 622/1 It would be pushing it to do the return walk the same day.
P5. to push a pen (also a pencil): to work with or use a pen or pencil, esp. intensively; (hence) to generate paperwork, to do a routine or monotonous office job (also to push paper). Cf. pen-pusher n., paper-pusher n. 2.
ΚΠ
1875 Stevens Point (Wisconsin) Jrnl. 19 June Their genteel husbands are perhaps fingering lace and silk over a counter, or pushing a pen in an elegant counting-room.
1896 Newark (Ohio) Daily Advocate 16 Jan. 2/4 The dramatic critic sat in his room pushing a pencil.
1925 R. F. Dibble Strenuous Americans 235 Her nimble fingers automatically pushed the pen that recorded the thoughts of her tireless brain.
1931 Times 7 Jan. 7/1 They worked in the open air and..were better off than they would have been pushing a pen in the City of London with another pound added to their wages.
1971 N. Stacey Who Cares? i. 19 It saddens me to hear of my old shipmates..pushing pens in Whitehall.
1998 D. Baldacci Simple Truth xxiv. 162 A wannabe weekend warrior, he concluded. Probably pushed a pencil Monday through Friday before slipping on his fatigues and gun looking for adventure.
2001 J. Hamilton-Paterson Loving Monsters (2002) xiii. 262 The great division in Cairo between the real soldiers who were actually doing the fighting and the rump of high-ranking layabouts who pushed paper and had mysterious jobs with long luncheons.
P6. colloquial. to push things: to overdo things, to expect too much or press something too far; = to push it at Phrases 4.
ΚΠ
1879 Daily Constit. (Atlanta, Georgia) 30 Oct. Isn't it rather pushing things a little to paint a picture of a confederate monument merely to get off a joke on the Gate City Guards?
1957 Chron.-Telegram (Elyria, Ohio) 4 Feb. 26/2 He..aroused the anger of Miss Hayworth's movie boss who felt that chopping the skull off a $6,000-a-week star for free was pushing things a little.
1967 H. Dalmas Fowler Formula iii. 31 [We] could have her by Christmas... It would be pushing things a little, but they said it could be done.
1970 ‘B. Mather’ Break in Line v. 60 ‘Once is funny, twice is cheeky,’ he grunted. ‘Don't push things, boy.’
1996 C. Bateman Of Wee Sweetie Mice & Men xiv. 113 I hope you like the headed paper. The hotel also has some girlie pink paper, but I thought that was pushing things a bit.
P7. colloquial (originally U.S., in African-American use). when (also if) push comes to shove: when action must back up words; if or when one must commit oneself to an action or decision.
ΚΠ
1873 T. De W. Talmage in United Methodist Free Churches' Mag. Aug. 473 The proposed improvement is about to fail, when Push comes up behind it and gives it a shove, and Pull goes in front and lays into the traces; and, lo! the enterprise advances, the goal is reached!
1897 Macon (Georgia) Tel. 13 Feb. 4/3 But, ‘if pinch comes to shove’ as old Sol..was wont to say, will these gentlemen put on the habilaments of war and prove ‘more than a match’ for British ironclads or Spanish machetes?]
1898 Macon (Georgia) Tel. 28 Feb. 4/2 When ‘push comes to shove’ will editors of the Yellow Kid organs enlist?
1924 Chicago Defender 9 Aug. ii. 1/2 ‘Defense day’, backed by President Coolidge, will be used to show you what you could do in a pinch and, also, to show Europe what Uncle Sam can do if push comes to shove.
1948 L. Hughes in Chicago Defender 16 Oct. 6/4 Civilizations, like clocks, have a way of running down—only to be replaced by new versions. One can always buy another clock, or even tell time by the sun, if push comes to shove.
1958 J. M. Murtagh & S. Harris Cast First Stone vii. 105 Some..judges..talk nice and polite... Then, when push comes to shove, they say ‘Six months in the workhouse’.
1970 Calgary (Alberta) Herald 4 May 57/1 If push comes to shove, make good the threat.
1997 Sunday Post (Glasgow) 4 May (Mag. section) 55/1 I can see you taking legal advice on your position so that you'll know what to do if push comes to shove, but you'll try to work things out first.
P8. Originally U.S. to push (someone) around: to move or cause (a person) to be moved roughly from place to place, to manhandle. Now chiefly figurative: to browbeat, bully, dominate; to take advantage of. Also (in non-U.S. use) to push about.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impelling or driving > pushing and pulling > push and pull [verb (transitive)] > push or pull about roughly
to-push13..
manhandlea1470
tussle?a1500
touse1509
rouzle1582
touslea1585
turmoil1588
jostle1602
grabble1684
swig1684
shovel1816
tousle1816
to push (someone) around1900
scruff1926
the mind > emotion > fear > quality of inspiring fear > quality of being intimidating > intimidate or bully [verb (transitive)]
awec1225
bashc1375
palla1393
argh1393
formengea1400
matea1400
boasta1522
quail1526
brag1551
appale1563
browbeat1581
adaw1590
overdare1590
dastard1593
strike1598
disdare1612
cowa1616
dare1619
daw1631
bounce1640
dastardize1645
intimidate1646
hector1664
out-hector1672
huff1674
bully1685
harass1788
bullyraga1790
major1829
haze1851
bullock1875
to push (someone) around1900
to put the frighteners in, on1958
psych1963
vibe1979
1900 Lincoln (Nebraska) Evening News 26 Oct. 2/4 Probably no candidate for the presidency was ever so much jostled about and pushed around in one day's time as Mr. Bryan was today.
1930 D. Runyon in Liberty 8 Nov. 24/1 After..Johnny gets on the strong-arm squad, he never misses a chance to push Big Jule around.
1942 R. Chandler High Window iii. 29 If anybody tries to push Linda around, he'll have to push me around first.
1963 D. Ballantyne in C. K. Stead N.Z. Short Stories (1966) 2nd Ser. 153 The Aussie..has made it bloody clear he won't be pushed about.
1976 National Observer (U.S.) 26 June 6/2 America has pushed these people around too much, too long, and it's natural that they feel resentment and react violently.
1985 S. MacGowan Poguetry (1989) 39 In the tube station the old ones..Would dribble and vomit and grovel and shout And the coppers would come along and push them about.
1995 K. Toolis Rebel Hearts (1996) iii. 94 His parents were working class, his brothers were in the IRA, but he was a lawyer, a man with standing and position, someone who could not easily be pushed around.
P9. slang. to push (someone's) face in: to punch (a person) in the face.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impact > striking > striking on specific part of the body > strike on specific part of the body [verb (intransitive)] > on the head > on the nose
to push (someone's) face in1898
1898 F. P. Dunne Mr. Dooley in Peace & War 177 I'd push his face in if he did.
1906 J. London White Fang iv. vi. 262 You clean swindled Beauty Smith on top of pushin' his face in with your fist.
1930 ‘R. Crompton’ William the Bad ix. 228 I'll go and find the blighter and push his face in for him. I never heard of such beastly cheek!
1992 M. J. Staples Pearly Queen (BNC) 116 Just because you saved my life, don't think you can give me all this cheek. I've a good mind to push your face in.
P10. to push one's luck: see luck n. Phrases 3d.
P11. to push up daisies: see daisy n. 1c.
P12. to push the boat out: see boat n.1 Phrases 7.
P13. Originally Aeronautics. to push the envelope and variants: to approach or go beyond the current limits of performance (see envelope n. Additions); to exceed or extend the boundaries of what is considered possible or permissible; to pioneer or innovate.Popularized in U.S. author Tom Wolfe's 1979 book about the space programme The Right Stuff.
ΚΠ
1970 Air Line Pilot Mar. 21/1 We expect to push the flight envelope out to Mach 2 sometime this spring.
1978 Aviation Week & Space Technol. 3 July 110/3 The aircraft's altitude envelope must be expanded to permit a ferry flight across the nation. NASA pilots were to push the envelope to 10,000 ft.
1979 T. Wolfe Right Stuff (1980) i. 8 One of the phrases that kept running through the conversation was ‘pushing the outside of the envelope’... [That] seemed to be the great challenge and satisfaction of flight test.
1981 Washington Post (Nexis) 18 Apr. d1 If you're going to be a star daredevil, then, by God, you've got to be daring. You don't get applause just for pushing the envelope anymore. It's as if you have to tear it open.
1989 N.Y. Times Mag. 6 Aug. 23/1 ‘What we want’, he tells the audience, ‘is to create the next computing revolution. We want to push the envelope’.
1993 Washington Post (National Weekly ed.) 7 June 23/1 Steven Bochco is offering a new series this fall on ABC, ‘NYPD Blue’, that, it has been widely predicted, will ‘push the edge of the envelope’ of profanity, nudity and artistic violence.
2002 Time 28 Jan. 21/2 Andersen..worked overtime to show that..it was merely trying to serve a secretive and aggressive client who was pushing the envelope on accounting rules that aren't very clear anyway.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

> see also

also refers to : push-comb. form
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n.1a1400n.2?1560n.3int.1600v.a1350
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