When Push Comes to Shove – Meaning and Origin

When push comes to shove is an idiom that describes the moment when a situation requires more effort to get a result. It’s when a little push turns into a hard shove. Picture being gently nudged to make a choice but being given a stronger shove when you hesitate.

Idioms, like when push comes to shove, are phrases where the words together have a different meaning than their individual definitions. They give us creative ways to communicate our thoughts and ideas.

This article details this idiom’s true meaning and origin and shares examples in a sentence. So keep reading!

When Push Comes to Shove Meaning

We use the idiom when push comes to shove to describe a moment of truth or a situation where someone has to commit to an action or decision. It’s the point where mild pressures or incentives turn into serious ones, urging a definitive response or action.

It’s like being really bad at house cleaning. However, when push comes to shove, aka company coming over, you can clean it from top to bottom in a few hours and make it look like a professional did it.

When Push Comes to Shove Origin

The phrase “when push comes to shove” is often linked to rugby. In this sport, momentum shifts rapidly. Players may start with a gentle nudge against their opponents. But soon, this can turn into harder pushes and aggressive shoves. All of this is in a bid to get the ball and score points.

The phrase embodies the idea of escalating action when faced with challenges. It means that when things get tough, it’s time to act. This idiom can be used in many situations, not just in sports. It’s helpful in contexts like business decisions or personal relationships.

While the exact origin of the phrase is debated, its ties to physical sports like rugby are clear. The phrase paints a picture of increasing physical conflict, making it memorable. Over time, it’s been used in literature, movies, and music, showing its broad appeal and lasting impact.

When Push Comes to Shove Synonyms

• When it comes down to it
• At crunch time
• In the final analysis
• When the rubber meets the road
• If worse comes to worst

Examples of ‘When Push Comes to Shove’ in a Sentence

• My mom’s undecided now, but when push comes to shove, I know she’ll let me go to the concert.
• I always have some money tucked away for when push comes to shove.
• When push comes to shove, we must prioritize our family’s needs.
• The team is relaxed now, but they always deliver when push comes to shove.
• We can debate all day, but action speaks louder than words when push comes to shove.
• It’s easy to promise support, but we’ll see who stands by us when push comes to shove.
• I’m trying diplomatic solutions to fix this, but I’ll take legal action when push comes to shove.
• If push comes to shove, I can relocate for the job.
• I know the science project seems complex, but you can pull it off and win the science fair when push comes to shove.

Don’t Be Pushy

“When push comes to shove” is a great phrase to use when things need to get serious to produce a result. Whether it’s tough decision-making or emphasizing the importance of crucial moments, this idiom is the one you need. But we’ve got plenty more fun phrases to learn on our site, so go check them out!