What Does โPush through sthโ Mean?
โPush through sthโ means to continue doing something despite difficulties or obstacles until it is finished or achieved.
Introduction
The phrase โpush through sthโ is a common phrasal verb in English. It is often used when someone faces challenges but keeps going until they succeed. Whether at work, school, or in personal life, this expression shows determination and effort. Understanding the Push through sth meaning helps learners use it naturally in conversation and writing. It conveys strength and persistence in overcoming problems or delays.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: Push through something
- Type: Transitive
- Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
- Short meaning: To continue and complete a task despite difficulties
Structure (Grammar Rules)
โPush through sthโ is a transitive phrasal verb, so it always takes an object.
It is inseparable, meaning you cannot put the object between โpushโ and โthrough.โ
Correct pattern: push through + object (something)
Example: She pushed through the pain to finish the race.
How to Use Push through sth?
Use โpush through sthโ when describing situations where a person or group continues working hard despite problems. It often relates to difficult projects, tough decisions, or physical and mental challenges. It emphasizes determination and effort to reach a goal.
It can be used in past, present, or future tenses:
- We are pushing through the last stage of the project.
- He pushed through the obstacles to graduate on time.
- They will push through the new policy despite opposition.
Examples
When facing challenges at work, people often need to push through difficulties to succeed.
- Despite feeling tired, Maria pushed through the long meeting.
- The team pushed through the technical problems and completed the software update.
- He pushed through his fear and gave a great presentation.
- They pushed through the bad weather to finish the outdoor event.
- Push through sth in a sentence: โWe had to push through the delays to meet the deadline.โ
Common Mistakes
Many learners confuse the separability of phrasal verbs or use the wrong object placement.
- Incorrect: She pushed the project through.
- Correct: She pushed through the project.
- Incorrect: They pushed through it the challenge.
- Correct: They pushed through the challenge.
Remember, โpush throughโ is inseparable, so the object must follow the entire phrase.
Differences / Synonyms
โPush through sthโ is similar to โcarry on,โ โget through,โ and โfollow through,โ but there are differences:
- Carry on: To continue doing something, often without emphasizing difficulty.
- Get through: To successfully finish something difficult or unpleasant.
- Follow through: To complete an action or promise fully.
โPush throughโ focuses more on force and effort to overcome obstacles.
Common Collocations
You will often hear โpush throughโ used with these objects related to challenges or tasks:
- Push through pain: To continue despite physical discomfort.
- Push through difficulties: To overcome problems.
- Push through a project: To complete work despite issues.
- Push through a law/policy: To get approval despite resistance.
- Push through fatigue: To keep going despite tiredness.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of push through sth:
Real-life Dialogue
Talking about finishing a difficult task often involves โpush through.โ
Anna: This report is taking forever. Iโm so tired.
Tom: I know, but we just have to push through it. The deadline is tomorrow.
Anna: Youโre right. Letโs finish this now.
Practice
Try to complete the sentences using โpush throughโ and the correct object.
- Even though the team faced many setbacks, they __________ the project.
- She felt sick but decided to __________ the pain and finish the marathon.
- The government plans to __________ the new law despite protests.
FAQ
- What does โpush through sthโ mean? It means to continue and complete something despite difficulties.
- Is โpush throughโ separable? No, it is an inseparable phrasal verb.
- Can I use โpush throughโ for physical and mental challenges? Yes, it is used for both types of challenges.
- What level is โpush through sthโ suitable for? It is best for intermediate to upper-intermediate learners (B2 level).
- How do I use โpush throughโ in a sentence? Use it with an object after the phrase, like โpush through the difficulties.โ

