What Does “Push sb through” Mean?
“Push sb through” means to help someone succeed, complete, or get approved in a process, often by encouraging or supporting them.
Introduction
The phrasal verb push sb through is commonly used in everyday English to describe the act of helping someone overcome a challenge or complete something important. Whether it’s assisting a friend to finish a difficult task or helping a colleague get approval for a project, push sb through expresses support and encouragement. Understanding the push sb through meaning can improve your communication, especially in professional or casual conversations where motivation and assistance are involved.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: push somebody through
- Type: Transitive
- Level: B2
- Short meaning: To help someone complete or succeed in something
Structure (Grammar Rules)
Push sb through is a separable phrasal verb. The object (sb) can be placed between the verb and the particle or after the particle.
- push someone through
- push through someone
Examples:
- They pushed her through the final interview.
- They pushed through her application quickly.
How to Use Push sb through?
You use push sb through when talking about helping someone finish a process or achieve a goal. This can be in work, school, or personal situations. It often involves effort, support, or influence to ensure success.
Common scenarios include:
- Helping a colleague get project approval
- Supporting a student to pass exams
- Encouraging a friend to complete a difficult task
Examples
Here are some sentences using push sb through in a natural way:
- The manager pushed her team through the deadline despite the challenges.
- They pushed him through the final stage of the hiring process.
- Our teacher pushed us through the difficult parts of the course.
- She pushed her application through quickly by contacting the right people.
- The coach pushed the players through the tough training sessions.
These examples show how push sb through in a sentence can describe support and effort.
Common Mistakes
Sometimes learners mix up the placement of the object or use the verb incorrectly. Here are some examples:
- Incorrect: They pushed through her the project.
- Correct: They pushed her through the project.
- Incorrect: She pushed through quickly her application.
- Correct: She pushed her application through quickly.
Remember that the object should be placed between push and through or after the particle through.
Differences / Synonyms
Push sb through is similar to phrasal verbs like see sb through and get sb through. However, there are differences:
- See sb through means to support someone until the end of a difficult time.
- Get sb through means to help someone succeed, often by overcoming obstacles.
- Push sb through focuses on actively helping or encouraging someone to complete a process or goal.
Choosing the right phrasal verb depends on the context and the level of support described.
Common Collocations
People often use push sb through with specific objects related to processes or challenges. Here are some common collocations:
- Push someone through an interview – to help them succeed in a job interview
- Push someone through an exam – to support passing a test
- Push someone through a project – to assist in completing a work task
- Push someone through an application – to help get approval
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of push sb through:
Real-life Dialogue
Here’s a short conversation using push sb through naturally:
Anna: I’m worried about the promotion process.
John: Don’t worry. I’ll push you through the final interview.
Anna: Thanks! I really appreciate your support.
Practice
Try to complete this sentence with the correct form of push sb through:
They decided to ________ her ________ the final approval despite the delays.
- a) push / through
- b) push through / her
- c) push her through
- d) pushing through her
Answer: c) push her through
FAQ
- What does “push sb through” mean? It means to help someone complete or succeed in a process or task.
- Is “push sb through” separable? Yes, you can put the object between “push” and “through” or after “through.”
- Can “push sb through” be used in formal situations? Yes, it is suitable for both formal and informal contexts.
- What are common objects used with “push sb through”? Interviews, exams, projects, applications are common collocations.
- How is “push sb through” different from “see sb through”? “Push sb through” focuses on helping complete a process, while “see sb through” means supporting someone during a difficult time.
