Definition
When the pressure is on; when the situation is critical or urgent; when the time has come for action, even if it is difficult.
In Context
- "He is not a particularly talented builder, but when push comes to shove, he can usually get the job done."
- "While most chose at that time either to disband or to join the APC rally several blocks north in McPherson Park, several hundred mostly young DC-area blacks and a sizable number of militant Palestinians continued to demand their right to confront the Klan. Push somehow came to shove and the face-off began. Several hours of street fighting followed."
- ""We've demonstrated that when push comes to shove, we can be really fast, we can be agile, we can do things more slickly."
See Also
- in a pinch
- nut-cutting time
- when the chips are down
- when the gloves come off