/poosh/ , v.t.
1. to press upon or against (a thing) with force in order to move it away.
2. to move (something) in a specified way by exerting force; shove; drive: to push something aside; to push the door open.
3. to effect or accomplish by thrusting obstacles aside: to push one's way through the crowd.
4. to cause to extend or project; thrust.
5. to press or urge to some action or course: His mother pushed him to get a job.
6. to press (an action, proposal, etc.) with energy and insistence: to push a bill through Congress.
7. to carry (an action or thing) toward a conclusion or extreme: She pushed the project to completion.
8. to press the adoption, use, sale, etc., of: to push inferior merchandise on customers.
9. to press or bear hard upon, as in dealings with someone: The prosecutor pushed him for an answer.
10. to put into difficulties because of the lack of something specified (usually fol. by for ): to be pushed for time.
11. Slang. to peddle (illicit drugs).
12. Informal. to be approaching a specific age, speed, or the like: The maestro is pushing ninety-two.
13. Photog. to modify (film processing) to compensate for underexposure.
v.i.
14. to exert a thrusting force upon something.
15. to use steady force in moving a thing away; shove.
16. to make one's way with effort or persistence, as against difficulty or opposition.
17. to extend or project; thrust: The point of land pushed far out into the sea.
18. to put forth vigorous or persistent efforts.
19. Slang. to sell illicit drugs.
20. to move on being pushed: a swinging door that pushes easily.
21. push around , to treat contemptuously and unfairly; bully: She's not the kind of person who can be pushed around.
22. push off , Informal. to go away; depart: We stopped at Denver for the night and were ready to push off again the following morning.
23. push on , to press forward; continue; proceed: The pioneers, despite overwhelming obstacles, pushed on across the plains.
24. push one's luck . See luck (def. 9).
n.
25. the act of pushing; a shove or thrust.
26. a contrivance or part to be pushed in order to operate a mechanism.
27. a vigorous onset or effort.
28. a determined advance against opposition, obstacles, etc.
29. a vigorous and determined military attack or campaign: The big push began in April.
30. the pressure of circumstances, activities, etc.
31. Informal. persevering energy; enterprise.
32. Informal. a crowd or company of people.
33. Brit. dismissal from a job; sack.
34. Australian Slang. a gang of hoodlums.
35. when or if push comes to shove , when or if matters are ultimately confronted or resolved; when or if a problem must be faced; in a crucial situation: If push comes to shove, the government will impose quotas on imports.
[ 1250-1300; ME pushen, poshen, posson (v.) pousser, OF po ( u ) lser pulsare. See PULSATE ]
Syn. 3. shoulder. 5. persuade, impel.