push / poŏsh/ • v. 1. [tr.] exert force on (someone or something), typically with one's hand, in order to move them away from oneself or the origin of the force: she pushed her glass toward him he pushed a card under the door| [intr.] he pushed at the skylight, but it wouldn't budge. ∎  [tr.] hold and exert force on (something) so as to cause it to move along in front of one: a woman was pushing a stroller. ∎  move one's body or a part of it into a specified position, esp. forcefully or with effort: she pushed her hands into her pockets. ∎  [tr.] press (a part of a machine or other device): he pushed the button for the twentieth floor. ∎ fig. affect (something) so that it reaches a specified level or state: they expect that the huge crop will push down prices.2. [intr.] move forward by using force to pass people or cause them to move aside: she pushed her way through the crowded streets he pushed past an old woman in his haste. ∎  (of an army) advance over territory: the guerrillas have pushed south to within 100 miles of the capital. ∎  exert oneself to attain something or surpass others: I was pushing hard until about 10 laps from the finish. ∎  (push for) demand persistently: the council continued to push for the better management of water resources. ∎  [tr.] compel or urge (someone) to do something, esp. to work hard: she believed he was pushing their daughter too hard. ∎  (be pushed) inf. have very little of something, esp. time: I'm a bit pushed for time at the moment. ∎  (be pushing) inf. be nearly (a particular age): she must be pushing forty, but she's still a good looker.3. [tr.] inf. promote the use, sale, or acceptance of: the company is pushing a $500 asking price. ∎  put forward (an argument or demand) with undue force or in too extreme a form: he thought that the belief in individualism had been pushed too far. ∎  sell (a narcotic drug) illegally.4. [tr.] Comput. prepare (a stack) to receive a piece of data on the top. ∎  transfer (data) to the top of a stack.5. [tr.] Photog. develop (film) so as to compensate for deliberate underexposure.• n. 1. an act of exerting force on someone or something in order to move them away from oneself: he closed the door with a push. ∎  an act of pressing a part of a machine or device: the door locks at the push of a button. ∎ fig. something that encourages or assists something else: the fall in prices was given a push by official policy.2. a vigorous effort to do or obtain something: many clubs are joining in the fund-raising push | he determined to make one last push for success. ∎  a military attack in force: the army was engaged in a push against guerrilla strongholds. ∎  forcefulness and enterprise: an investor with the necessary money and push.PHRASES: get (or give someone) the push (or shove) Brit., inf. be dismissed (or dismiss someone) from a job. ∎ be rejected in (or end) a relationship.push someone's buttonssee button.pushing up daisiessee daisy.push one's luck inf. take a risk on the assumption that one will continue to be successful or in favor.when push comes to shove inf. when one must commit oneself to an action or decision: when push came to shove, I always stood up for him.PHRASAL VERBS: push ahead proceed with or continue a course of action or policy: he promised to push ahead with economic reform.push someone around inf. treat someone roughly or inconsiderately.push off use an oar, boathook, etc., to exert pressure so as to move a boat out from shore or away from another vessel. push on continue on a journey: the light was already fading, but she pushed on.push something through get a proposed measure completed or accepted quickly.

Push ★ 2006 (R)

Unoriginal drug story set in Miami. Bartender Joe (Lindberg) gets his greedy pals Micky (DePaolo) and Kevin (Forsythe) involved in a scheme to push Ecstasy for drug lord Paul (Sanchez). Naturally, they get in too deep and bad things happen. 105m/C DVD . Chad Lindberg, Otto Sanchez, Chazz Palminteri, Charlotte Ayanna, William DePaolo, Pierce Forsythe, Michael Rappaport; D: Dave Rodriguez; W: Dave Rodriguez, Ben Carlin; C: Steve Goodman; M: Tommy Finno.

push push the envelope approach or extend the limits of what is possible, originally as aviation slang, relating to graphs of aerodynamic performance on which the envelope is the boundary line representing an aircraft's capabilities.
when push comes to shove when one must commit oneself to an action or decision, if the worst comes to the worst.

See also push the boat out.

Push

a press; a throng; a crowd; a moving school or shoal of fish, 1878.

Examples : push of convicts (Australian), 1890; of Larrikins (Australian for convicts), 1890; of men, 1866; of people, 1718; of water, 1886.

push vb. XIII. — AN. *pusser, (O)F. pousser, † pou(l)ser :— L. pulsāre, frequent. f. puls-, pp. stem of pellere drive, thrust.
Hence sb. XVI.