1 B2 idiomatic informal
To treat someone in a bullying or domineering way.
"She was tired of being pushed about by her supervisor and decided to complain to HR."
separable
push about
B2 informal separable transitive
To treat someone in a bossy or bullying way, telling them what to do or intimidating them.
In plain English
To treat someone badly by bullying them or telling them what to do all the time.
What does "push about" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To physically push someone around a space — extended to treating them however one pleases.
Actually means
To treat someone badly by bullying them or telling them what to do all the time.
Usage tip
Chiefly British English. Interchangeable with 'push around'. Often used in contexts where someone refuses to be treated this way: 'I won't be pushed about'.
Words that pair with "push about"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
people staff employees others weaker people
How to conjugate "push about"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
push about
I/you/we/they
3rd person
pushes about
he/she/it
Past simple
pushed about
yesterday
Past participle
pushed about
have + pp
-ing form
pushing about
continuous
Hear "push about" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "push about" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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