Word
pushover
US/ˈpʊˌʃoʊvɝ/
UK/pˈʊʃəʊvɐ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a person who is easy to influence or persuade, or something that is very easy to do. You use this when someone cannot say 'no' to others.
n. a person who is easily influenced, defeated, or persuaded; alternatively, a task or contest that is exceptionally easy to accomplish. Informal in register.
Examples
“My boss is a pushover and always lets me leave early.”
“The team expected the final match to be a pushover, but their opponents played much better than anticipated.”
“While he cultivated a reputation for being a pushover in social settings, he was known to be a fierce and uncompromising negotiator in the boardroom.”
Examples
simple
“My boss is a pushover and always lets me leave early.”
contextual
“The team expected the final match to be a pushover, but their opponents played much better than anticipated.”
complex
“While he cultivated a reputation for being a pushover in social settings, he was known to be a fierce and uncompromising negotiator in the boardroom.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “pushover” in context.
Verb
01. be no pushover
“She may look small, but she is no pushover in a negotiation.”
verb + noun
02. consider pushover
“You shouldn't consider him a pushover just because he is polite.”
verb + noun
03. expect pushover
“The team expected a pushover but faced a very tough opponent.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. complete pushover
“He is a complete pushover who will agree to anything you ask.”
adj + noun
05. easy pushover
“The exam was an easy pushover for anyone who had studied.”
adj + noun
06. total pushover
“Don't expect him to fight back; he's a total pushover.”
adj + noun
Noun
07. bit of pushover
“My new boss is a bit of a pushover when it comes to deadlines.”
noun + prep + noun
08. prove to be a pushover
“The interview proved to be a pushover and I got the job easily.”
09. take someone for a pushover
“They took him for a pushover, but he refused to sign the contract.”
Usage
Commonly used in the predicate after a linking verb like 'be' or 'seem'.
Real-World Examples
“Brits sometimes mistake being polite for being a pushover, and they are very different things.” “Prakash says this showed that Trump has realised that "China is not a pushover", and that is why he would want a different kind of engagement around Quad.” “You could be fooled by the pink hair and big smile but Rapinoe is no pushover - even refusing US President Donald Trump's invitation to the White House.” “You want to be a cooperative colleague but you don’t want to be seen as an ineffective pushover.” Etymology
A deverbal from push over. First use appears c. 1891 in the Galveston Daily News.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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