English idiom

when push comes to shove

Register · Neutral CEFR B2

Post

Figurative meaning

when mounting pressure makes decisive action unavoidable

Word picture

An ordinary push is pictured escalating into a harder shove, marking the point when pressure becomes serious.

Example

“We can debate the budget for weeks, but when push comes to shove, the director must choose.”

Dictionary details

Component words

push shove

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

bite the bullet

To force yourself to do something unpleasant or difficult that you have been avoiding.

when the chips are down

at a moment of crisis when pressure forces an important choice

at a pinch

if it becomes absolutely necessary, though the option is barely adequate

easier said than done

Something that sounds simple to do but is actually hard.

hang in there

to persevere and not give up despite difficulty

in a tight spot

in a difficult or dangerous situation

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

External links

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