■ verb
1》 exert force on (someone or something) in order to move them away from oneself.
↘hold and exert force on (something) so as to cause it to move in front of one.
↘move one's body or a part of it forcefully into a specified position.
↘( ~ off ) exert pressure with an oar so as to move a boat out from a bank.
2》 move forward by using force.
↘( ~ in ) Brit. go in front of people who are already queuing.
↘( ~ ahead ) proceed with or continue a course of action.
↘( ~ off ) Brit. informal go away; depart.
3》 urge (someone) to greater effort.
↘( ~ for ) demand persistently.
4》 informal promote the use, sale, or acceptance of.
↘sell (a narcotic drug) illegally.
5》 ( be ~ed ) informal have very little of something, especially time.
6》 ( be ~ing ) informal be nearly (a particular age).
■ noun
1》 an act of ~ing.
2》 a vigorous effort.
↘forcefulness and enterprise.
3》 ( a ~ ) informal something that is hard to achieve.
Phrases
at a ~ Brit. informal only if necessary or with a certain degree of difficulty.
get (or give someone ) the ~ (or shove) Brit. informal
1》 be dismissed (or dismiss someone) from a job.
2》 be rejected in (or end) a relationship.
~ one's luck informal take a risk on the assumption that one will continue to be successful or in favour.
when ~ comes to shove informal when one must commit oneself to an action or decision.
Derivatives
~er noun
Origin
ME: from OFr. pousser , from L. pulsare (see pulse 1 ).