Dictionary

push it en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Etymology

The slang sense referring to sexual intercourse was inspired by "Push It", a Salt-n-Pepa song of the 1980s. The song is ostensibly only about dancing but clearly also implies sex.

Meanings

1. (idiomatic) To make an extraordinary or risky effort; to behave in a way which tests the limits; to take chances; to expect too much.
   • "Sometimes she lets me touch her, just the breasts you see, and that's fine, I don't push it." 2010, Andre Dubus, Adultery & Other Choices, →ISBN:
   • We were really pushing it when we kept on driving even though the fuel gauge was near empty.
   • You're really pushing it if you expect them to keep putting up with your B.S.
   • This season, Johnson's back spasms returned after five games and he underwent surgery again. . . . "If it comes around well, I might be able to play. I'm not going to push it." 1989 December 30, Frank Litsky, “Giants' Johnson Practicing Again”, in New York Times, retrieved 29 Aug 2013:
   • "No hurry, give me time"—"don't push it"—"wait"—"do nothing"—"the status quo"—all these various phrases expressed Lord Southend's earnest and re-iterated advice." 1900, Anthony Hope, chapter 20, in Tristram of Blent:
   • [V]arious physicians in the U.S. have been quoted as saying that coming back this quickly from his particular injury is pushing it. 2008 July 24, Bill Powell, “100 Olympic Athletes To Watch: Yao Ming”, in Time, retrieved 29 Aug 2013:
2. (dated, slang) To have sexual intercourse.
   • push it real good
   • Salt-n-Pepa's here, and we're in effect Want you to push it back Cooling by day, then at night, working up a sweat C'mon girls, let's go show the guys that we know How to become number one in a hot party show Now push it push it good (Ah, push it) push it real good (Ah, push it) push it good (Ah, push it) p-push it real good Ow! Push it good Ooh, baby, baby, baby, baby Ooh, baby, baby, ba-baby, baby Push it good Push it real good Ah, push it 1987, Hurby Azor, Ray Davies, “Push It (Salt-n-Pepa song)”performed by Salt-n-Pepa:

Forms

Relateds

push the envelope · push one's luck