if push comes to shove

if push co·mes to shove

I i

Definitions of if push comes to shove words

verb with object if push comes to shove to press upon or against (a thing) with force in order to move it away. 1
verb with object if push comes to shove to move (something) in a specified way by exerting force; shove; drive: to push something aside; to push the door open. 1
verb with object if push comes to shove to effect or accomplish by thrusting obstacles aside: to push one's way through the crowd. 1
verb with object if push comes to shove to cause to extend or project; thrust. 1
verb with object if push comes to shove to press or urge to some action or course: His mother pushed him to get a job. 1
verb with object if push comes to shove to press (an action, proposal, etc.) with energy and insistence: to push a bill through Congress. 1

before 1250

One of the 11% oldest English words

1250-1300; Middle English pushen, poshen, posson (v.) < Middle French pousser, Old French po(u)lser < Latin pulsāre. See pulsate

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 97% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.

Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

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