What Does “Push sth out” Mean?
“Push sth out” means to delay or postpone something, or to physically move something away by applying force. It is a common phrasal verb used in different contexts.
Introduction
The phrasal verb “push sth out” has two main uses. First, it can mean to delay or reschedule an event or deadline. For example, a company may push a product launch out to a later date. Second, it refers to physically moving something away by pushing it forward or outward. Understanding the push sth out meaning helps learners use it correctly in both spoken and written English. This guide explains how to use it in various situations with clear examples.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: push something out
- Type: transitive
- Level: B1
- Short meaning: to delay or move something away by pushing
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Push sth out” is a separable phrasal verb. You can place the object either between “push” and “out” or after “out”.
- push something out
- push out something
Example:
- They pushed the meeting out by a week.
- They pushed out the meeting by a week.
How to Use Push sth out?
Use “push sth out” when talking about delaying an event, deadline, or release. It also applies when describing the physical action of moving something forward by pushing. The context will clarify which meaning is intended.
In business, “push sth out” often means to postpone a project or product launch. In everyday life, it can describe pushing an object, such as a door or drawer.
Examples
Here are some examples to understand push sth out in a sentence:
- The company decided to push the product launch out to next month due to technical issues.
- She pushed the door out to open it fully.
- We had to push the deadline out because the report wasn’t ready.
- He pushed the chair out to make room for the new table.
- The manager pushed the meeting out by two days to give everyone more time to prepare.
Common Mistakes
It’s easy to confuse the correct placement of the object. Here are some common mistakes:
- Incorrect: They pushed out the out the deadline.
- Correct: They pushed out the deadline.
- Incorrect: She pushed out the door it.
- Correct: She pushed the door out.
Remember, the object should not be repeated. Also, avoid using “push sth out” for actions that do not involve delay or physical pushing.
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrasal verbs include:
- Delay sth: Means to make something happen later, similar to pushing something out.
- Postpone sth: Formal synonym for delaying an event.
- Push sth back: Also means to delay but usually implies moving an event to an earlier or later time.
- Push sth away: Means to physically move something farther from you, unlike push sth out which may imply moving forward or outward.
While “push sth out” can be used for both delay and physical movement, “push sth back” usually refers only to rescheduling.
Common Collocations
When using “push sth out,” certain objects are common:
- Deadline: To delay the due date.
- Meeting: To reschedule a meeting to a later time.
- Product launch: To postpone releasing a product.
- Door: To physically move a door outward.
- Chair: To move a chair by pushing it out from under a table.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of push sth out:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using “push sth out”:
Anna: The project deadline is too soon. Can we ask for more time?
Mark: Yes, I’ll talk to the manager and see if we can push it out by a week.
Anna: That would be great. We need the extra time to finish everything.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
- A) They decided to push the meeting out to next Friday.
- B) They decided to push out the meeting to next Friday.
- C) Both A and B are correct.
Fill in the blank:
The teacher had to _______ the exam out because of the school closure.
FAQ
- Q: Can “push sth out” be used in informal and formal English?
A: Yes, it is common in both, especially in business contexts. - Q: Is “push sth out” always about delaying?
A: No, it can also mean physically pushing something outward. - Q: Can I say “push out something”?
A: Yes, the phrasal verb is separable, so this is correct. - Q: What is the difference between “push out” and “push back”?
A: “Push out” often means delay or move forward physically; “push back” usually means to delay by moving something to a later time. - Q: Is “push sth out” used with inanimate objects only?
A: It is mostly used with events or physical objects, rarely with people.
