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Glite Dictionary
to push in

to push in

5 5.6
To join a line or enter a place without waiting your turn
  • phrasal verb
  • /pʊʃ ɪn/
  • UK
translation icon : colarse
  • As the concert started, a group of latecomers pushed in, disturbing those who were already seated.
  • pushes his way in
  • just push in

Examples

  • While waiting for the bus, he rudely pushed in front of others to get on first.

  • Push me... push me in!

    King's Ransom (2005)

  • OK, now push me in.

    King's Ransom (2005)

  • Lionel Bodi, a cop in his mid-twenties, pushes his way in.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • She pushed in line at the store, ignoring the people who had been waiting.

Synonyms

to shove
vsto push in
528 2.7

Push someone or something roughly and quickly

involves rude joining by skipping turns, not only rough physical pushing
to intrude
vsto push in
105 4.4

To go into a place or conversation where you are not welcome

focuses specifically on rude joining and skipping others' turns rather than general unwelcome entry
to barge in
vsto push in
  • Informal
59 5.5

Enter a room or conversation suddenly and rudely without being invited

focuses more on rude joining of lines or places rather than only interruption
to put in
vsto push in
54 3.8

Interrupt a conversation to make a short comment or question

is ruder and often physical, involving skipping turns or forcing entry
to rush in
vsto push in
36 3.1

Act quickly without thinking, for example by going into a place

stresses ignoring turn-taking and rudeness rather than just haste
to break in
vsto push in
30 3.4

To interrupt a conversation or activity without being invited

is about physical joining of lines or places rather than chiefly interruptions
to burst in
vsto push in
21 3.3

To enter a room suddenly and interrupt people

is less about surprise and more about ignoring turn-taking or manners
to butt in
vsto push in
  • Informal
21 4.4

Interrupt someone who is speaking without being invited

covers joining a line or place rudely as well as conversational interruption
to cut in line
vsto push in
  • US
8 3.8

Move ahead of people in a line without waiting for your turn

is similar but also covers rude entry into spaces, not only queues
to horn in
vsto push in
  • Informal
5 8.2

To join a conversation or activity without being invited

is more about rude entry into queues or places rather than meddling speech
to push one's way through
vsto push in
4 3.9

Move forward by getting past people or things blocking the way

is similar but more about joining queues or cutting in specifically
to burst in on
vsto push in
3 5.2

Go into a room or conversation suddenly and interrupt people

is about rude joining by not waiting, not only sudden interruption
to shoulder in
vsto push in
1 7.2

To push into a crowd or group using your body to get ahead

covers rude joining but is less physically forceful and more general
to jump the queue
vsto push in
  • UK
1 4.8

Move ahead of people waiting in a line to skip your turn

is broader and can mean rude entry into places as well as lines
to bum rush
vsto push in
  • Informal
1 9.6

To push into a place quickly and forcefully as a crowd

is usually a single-person rude joining, not a mass forceful entry
to obtrude
vsto push in
1 9.1

Push yourself into a place or conversation when people do not want you

is similar but emphasizes ignoring queue order and not waiting one's turn
to jip the line
vsto push in
  • Informal
9.9

To cut in line without taking your turn

is the same rude joining but described more generally, not only queues
to push one's way past
vsto push in
  • Informal
5.6

Move forward through a crowd by forcing people aside with your body

includes rude joining in lines but is broader than just cutting ahead
to thrust ahead
vsto push in
5.7

To push forward through a crowd to get ahead

is focused more on rude joining of lines rather than general forceful motion

Antonyms

to wait your turn
17 2.0

Be patient and let others go before you until it is your turn

How Rude

to barge in
  • Informal
59 5.5
to push in
  • UK
5 5.6
to cut in
12 4.6
to slip in
19 4.4

Surface Forms

push in infinitive
pushed in past
pushed in past participle
pushing in present participle
pushes in third person singular

Morphology

push + in

The meaning 'to enter or join a line rudely' is directly derivable from combining 'push' (apply force) with the directional particle 'in' (into), yielding the idea of forcing oneself into a space or queue; the rude/joining sense is a straightforward pragmatic extension. This compositional pattern is common and cross-linguistically paralleled, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would very likely infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Push in comes from the simple image of someone using their hands or body to push their way in between people waiting in a line. So, it means 'to join a line or enter a place rudely, without waiting your turn'.