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when push comes to shove

when push co·mes to shove
W w

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [hwen, wen poo sh koh-meez too shuhv]
    • /ʰwɛn, wɛn pʊʃ ˈkoʊ miz tu ʃʌv/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [hwen, wen poo sh koh-meez too shuhv]
    • /ʰwɛn, wɛn pʊʃ ˈkoʊ miz tu ʃʌv/

Definitions of when push comes to shove words

  • verb with object when push comes to shove to press upon or against (a thing) with force in order to move it away. 1
  • verb with object when 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 when push comes to shove to effect or accomplish by thrusting obstacles aside: to push one's way through the crowd. 1
  • verb with object when push comes to shove to cause to extend or project; thrust. 1
  • verb with object when 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 when push comes to shove to press (an action, proposal, etc.) with energy and insistence: to push a bill through Congress. 1
See all 33 definitions of when push comes to shove

Information block about the term

Origin of when push comes to shove

First appearance:

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

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for When push comes to shove

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
Full grammatical hierarchy of When push comes to shove

when push comes to shove popularity

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".

when push comes to shove usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for when push comes to shove

noun when push comes to shove

  • critical period — a period in a lifetime during which a specific stage of development usually occurs. If it fails to do so, it cannot readily occur afterwards
  • match point — (in tennis, squash, handball, etc.) the point that if won would enable the scorer or the scorer's side to win the match.
  • moment of truth — the moment in a bullfight at which the matador is about to make the kill.
  • kairos — A propitious moment for decision or action.
All 4 Synonyms of when push comes to shove

See also

Matching words

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