push /pʊʃ/► SEE ALLgive sb/get the pushif/when push comes to shovepush the boat outpush sb’s buttonspush the envelopepush your luckpush it/thingspush sth to the back of your mindpress/push the panic buttonat a pinch/push ●give sb/get the ˈpush (BrE, informal) 1.tell sb/be told to leave your job解雇／被解雇◆He was stealing from the firm so the manager gave him the push. 他盗窃公司财产，所以经理把他解雇了。◆The company is in trouble. Who will be the next to get the push? 公司陷入了困境，下一个被解雇的会是谁呢？2.end a relationship with sb/be rejected by sb you have had a relationship with与…断绝关系；被…抛弃◆His girlfriend gave him the push and he’s a bit upset. 他的女朋友跟他分手了，他有些难过。◆Why is it always me that gets the push? What’s wrong with me? 为什么我总是被人甩？我到底哪里不好？●if/when ˌpush comes to ˈshove (informal) if/when there is no other choice; if/when everything else has failed别无选择时；迫不得已时◆I don’t want to sell the house, but if push comes to shove, I might have to. 我不想把房子卖掉，不过万不得已时，也只好这样做。NOTEShove means to push somebody in a rough way. * shove 意为“猛推”。●push the ˈboat out (BrE, informal) spend a lot of money on food, drinks, etc. when celebrating a special occasion不惜费用地庆祝；花大钱庆祝一番◆They really pushed the boat out for their daughter’s wedding. 他们为了女儿的婚礼大事铺张。OPPpinch pennies●ˌpush sb’s ˈbuttons ( ˌpress sb’s ˈbuttonsespecially in BrE) (informal) make sb react, especially in an angry or excited way使作出反应（尤指愤怒地或激动地）◆I almost never lose my temper, but this guy can really push my buttons. 我几乎从不发脾气，但这家伙真的让我火冒三丈。◆I’ve known him for years, but I still don’t really know what pushes his buttons. 我已认识他多年，可还是摸不透他的脾气。●push the ˈenvelopedo sth in an extreme way in order to find out to what degree sth is possible以极端的方式试探某事的极限◆Advertisements seem to be pushing the envelope of taste every day. 广告每天都好像在试探品位的极限。◆People these days like to push the envelope with extreme sports. 如今人们喜欢以极限运动来挑战自我。▸ˈenvelope-pushing
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◆envelope-pushing technology 突破性技术ORIGINThis expression comes from the aeroplane industry. A plane’s envelope was the limit of its performance. Test pilots would need to push (the edge of) the envelope to see what the plane could and could not do.这个表达法源于飞机制造业。envelope 是飞机的性能极限。试飞员需要测试其极限以确定飞机的性能。●push your ˈluck●ˈpush it/things (informal) (often used as a warning常用作警告) take a risk because you have successfully avoided problems in the past（由于过去的成功过关）再冒一次险，继续碰运气◆You’ve already got a good pay rise. Now don’t push your luck by asking for more leave. 你的薪金已经涨了很多，不要再冒险要求更长的假期了。◆Look, boys, I told you ten minutes ago to leave, so don’t push it. Get out of here now or I’ll call the police. 听着，小子，我十分钟前就让你走了，不要得寸进尺，现在马上离开，否则我就报警了。●push sth to the ˌback of your ˈmindtry to forget about sth unpleasant把…抛到脑后；刻意忘掉（不愉快的事）◆I tried to push the thought to the back of my mind. 我努力把这个念头忘掉。●press/push the ˈpanic button (BrE) react in a sudden or an extreme way to sth unexpected that has frightened you惊慌失措；仓促行事◆Although the team lost yet another match on Saturday, their manager is refusing to press the panic button.这个队周六又输了一场比赛，但主教练拒绝仓促行事。●at a ˈpinch/ˈpush (BrE) (NAmEin a ˈpinch) (informal) possible if you try very hard or if it is absolutely necessary在紧要关头；必要时；不得已时◆We usually only accept 55 guests but at a pinch, we could take 60.我们通常只接待 55 位客人，不过在必要时我们能接待 60 位。