When push comes to shove

When push comes to shove (或 if push comes to shove) 是個美國慣用語,意為「(迫) 不得已時;實在不行的話;一旦情況緊急」。除了 if push comes to shove 的講法或寫法外,這個成語有時亦說成或寫成 when it comes to the push 或 if it comes to the push。

When push comes to shove 中的 push 為名詞,shove 為動詞,但其實這兩個字皆可當名詞和動詞用,而且意思相近。Push 意為「推,推進」,而 shove 意為「推,推撞,推擠」;顯然地,push 的動作比 shove 來得溫和。據信,when push comes to shove 源於 1800 年代末期的美國黑人英語。這個成語從 1950 年代開始才被廣泛使用在書面英語中,可知在此之前它已在口語中被使用了逾 150 年。

例句:

  • Only a few people will really come through for you when push comes to shove. (一旦情況緊急,只有少數人真的會出面挺你)
  • When push comes to shove, you know I’ll be on your side. (一旦情況緊急,你知道我會支持你的)
  • If push came to shove, he would be willing to do the job all on his own. (迫不得已時,他願意獨自一人做這項工作)
  • If push comes to shove, we can always sell the house. (實在不行的話,我們還可以把房子賣掉)
  • When it comes to the push I’ll just have to sell the car. (迫不得已時,我就要把車子賣了)
  • Money is a bit tight these days, but if it comes to the push I’ll have to get a loan. (最近手頭有點緊,迫不得已時,我只好借款了)
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