at a push
idiom
British, informal
: with some difficulty : by making a special effort
We can fit five people in the car, six at a push.
Examples of at a push in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
And Matheus Cunha can operate there at a push, but moving him from his preferred position would weaken the team.
—
Steve Madeley, The Athletic, 4 Feb. 2025
My friends never call me just to talk; a handful of my long-distance friends will FaceTime me maybe, at a push, quarterly.
—Kelly Washington, refinery29.com, 18 Apr. 2023
My friends never call me for a chat; a handful of my long-distance friends will FaceTime me maybe, at a push, quarterly.
—Kelly Washington, refinery29.com, 18 Apr. 2023
The compilation clip could, at a push, be used as a sort of generational Rorschach test.
—Rory Smith, New York Times, 15 Mar. 2024
Do note that the 4K option will severely sap battery life, however, which already takes a slight hit this generation, resting at around 10 hours at a push.
—Jon Martindale, Forbes, 15 Apr. 2021
The dinette converts into a sleeping area for two at a push of a button (the bed stores against the ceiling during the day).
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 1 Mar. 2021
At the turn of the 20th century, manufacturers and distributors of push-button products often tried to convince customers that their every whim and desire could be gratified at a push – without any of the mess, injury or effort of previous technologies like pulls, cranks or levers.
—Rachel Plotnick, Discover Magazine, 4 Feb. 2019
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Steve Madeley, The Athletic, 4 Feb. 2025
My friends never call me just to talk; a handful of my long-distance friends will FaceTime me maybe, at a push, quarterly.
—Kelly Washington, refinery29.com, 18 Apr. 2023
My friends never call me for a chat; a handful of my long-distance friends will FaceTime me maybe, at a push, quarterly.
—Kelly Washington, refinery29.com, 18 Apr. 2023
The compilation clip could, at a push, be used as a sort of generational Rorschach test.
—Rory Smith, New York Times, 15 Mar. 2024
Do note that the 4K option will severely sap battery life, however, which already takes a slight hit this generation, resting at around 10 hours at a push.
—Jon Martindale, Forbes, 15 Apr. 2021
The dinette converts into a sleeping area for two at a push of a button (the bed stores against the ceiling during the day).
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 1 Mar. 2021
At the turn of the 20th century, manufacturers and distributors of push-button products often tried to convince customers that their every whim and desire could be gratified at a push – without any of the mess, injury or effort of previous technologies like pulls, cranks or levers.
—Rachel Plotnick, Discover Magazine, 4 Feb. 2019
Cite this Entry
“At a push.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/at%20a%20push. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
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