push through

phrasal verb·3 senses·particle through

Meanings

1

Force a way past resistance

Passageuncommon

Why “through”? Movement goes from one side to the other.

He pushed through the crowd to reach the stage.
He forced his way past the crowd to reach the stage.
She pushed through the deep snow to reach the road.
She forced her way through the deep snow to reach the road.
2

Drive a transmission so it succeeds

Why “through”? A call or message moves through a line and reaches someone. You connect, make contact, or make the idea clear.

They pushed the alert through to all subscribers.
They forced the alert to be transmitted to all subscribers.
The team pushed the payment through before noon.
The team made the payment go through the system before noon.
3

Force a plan, law or proposal to be accepted

Why “through”? You start a task and keep going to the end. You finish the whole thing.

They pushed the bill through.
They forced the bill to be accepted.
The council pushed the plan through in one night.
The council forced the plan to be accepted in one night.
The board pushed the new rule through.
The board forced the new rule to be accepted.

Don't confuse with

push throughpush around

Push through means force a way past resistance. Push around means treat someone roughly or unfairly.

Test yourself

He pushed through the crowd to reach the stage. What does it mean?

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