Phrasal Verbs – push

The next verb we are going to look at is the verb ‘to push’ combined with particles. Here are some of the most common:

‘to push ahead’ with a plan or arrangement means to continue with it when there are problems or others wish to stop.

  • We’ve had a few problems but we have decided to push ahead.
  • They are pushing ahead with plans to build the motorway despite the protests.

‘to push around’ means to tell someone to do something in a rude way.

  • When I was young I was pushed around by my big brother.
  • Don’t push me around! I’m fed up of you telling me what to do.

‘to push back’ means to delay an appointment until a later date or time.

  • It’ll take an hour to get there. Let’s push the meeting back until ten.
  • My operation was pushed back a month due to a shortage of nurses.

‘to push for’ means to try to persuade someone to give you something.

  • The assembly line workers are always pushing for a salary increase.
  • The local residents are pushing for a lower speed limit to make the roads safer.

‘to push in’ means to jump into a queue in front of other people who are already waiting.

  • I was very angry when they pushed in and were served before me.
  • Don’t push in. Go to the back of the line.

‘to push on’  means to continue doing something.

  • Even though the project was not going very well, they pushed on with it.
  • I must push on. I’ve got a lot of work to do.

‘to push out’ means to force someone to leave a job or activity.

  • He didn’t resign from his last job, he was pushed out.
  • I felt I was pushed out of the group because I didn’t agree with them on everything.

‘to push past’ means to press roughly into someone as you pass them.

  • During the race, I had to push past a few runners to get to the front.
  • He was in a great hurry and hit me as he pushed past.

‘to push through’ means to get something accepted, often with difficulty.

  • The government pushed the legislation through very quickly.
  • The local council pushed through measures to improve the schools.

‘to push up’ means to increase something, usually a price or rate.

  • The war in the Middle East has pushed up the price of petrol.
  • The bad weather has pushed the price of some vegetables up by ten percent.

exercise1

exercise 2

exercise 3

34 thoughts on “Phrasal Verbs – push”

  4. Hello Pearson and Caroline,
    I am very sad to hear the bad news that Macmillan has stopped publishing the next books to continue the Meeting Point.I think You and Caroline really produced excellent materials for these books,hopefully not in vain.The Macmillan books are very popular
    in Hungary.There is a big “Language Parade” in Budapest in every September where
    hundreds of people could buy these books.
    I hope Macmillan will change the office politics and will continue the edition of the
    missing books if they don’t want to lose their customers worldwide where people
    like these useful English books.You added a great work to develop their popularity.
    I wish I could help you to solve your problem.
    Good luck and thank you for your lessons.
    Piroska

  10. Thank you so much for this exercise which is really useful to implement in the class in developing oral skills.

  11. Dear Pearson
    I would like to extend my heartiest support for your noble and benevolent attempt in educating English. On the contrary, the decision taken by M/s Macmillian Company in publishing your book ‘Meeting the Point’ is disappointing.
    Think up an alternative in consultation with other Publishers of repute to resolve the crisis.
    Thanks a lot for your valued lessons.

  17. Hello, Pearson and Caroline,
    It has always been my intention to learn English as much as I can. Thank you for the possibility of doing a lot of exercises and improving my grammer.
    I’ve never read your book but I am really disappointed to hear the bad news that Macmillan has stopped publishing your last book. I hope it will be published!

    Best regards
    Diana

  21. Sad to hear the news. Hope Macmillan will realize their mistake earliest if they do not want to be out of business soon…You are like a candle showing the light to needy one. Thanks for all your lessons

  22. I am very unhappy that Macmillan willl not be published. I began to learn English with books of Macmillan and ones are excellent for me.
    Thank you for your lessons. It’s very usefull.
    Regards from Russia.

  23. And me too i feel bad to hear this bad news about the stoped book of Macmilan but in God we trust and i encourage you to continue your project in future.you can send me the letter on this pobox:32kayanza/burundi

  28. Thanks a lot for all your lessons. God bless you for helping non-native people to learn and teach English. I hope your book is published soon either with McMillan or with other Publishers. You are the best anyway and they have to realize what they are loosing.

  30. I am also disappointed hearing that your last book was stop from been published. I pray that Macmillan English will reconsider its decision. I deeply regret the situation. However, thank you for the imparting lessons you share with the world.

  32. Hi I am very glad to have received your interesting and helpful lessons for my students, even though Macmilan publication has not been dealt, I particularly appreciate your kindness.
    John Bright

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