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Glite Dictionary
to thrust ahead

to thrust ahead

5.7
To push forward through a crowd to get ahead
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : abrirse paso
  • He thrust ahead in the crowded line.

Examples

  • Despite the resistance, the protesters thrust ahead toward the front lines.

  • She managed to thrust ahead in the crowded hallway to get to the door first.

  • Determined to win, he thrust ahead of his competitors during the final lap.

  • Don't thrust ahead without waiting your turn!

  • The coach urged the players to thrust ahead in order to secure their victory in the match.

  • She decided to thrust ahead in the crowded marketplace, determined to reach her destination quickly.

  • He had to thrust ahead through the dense crowd to reach the stage on time.

Synonyms

to shove
vsto thrust ahead
528 2.7

Push someone or something roughly and quickly

is about advancing forward through people to make progress rather than rough contact
to thrust
vsto thrust ahead
66 3.9

To push something or someone suddenly and forcefully forward

is about moving oneself forward and displacing others to progress
to barge
vsto thrust ahead
  • Informal
42 6.0

To force your way into a place or conversation without permission

is about making forward progress often by displacing people rather than simply entering
to push forward
vsto thrust ahead
6 3.6

To move ahead by pushing people or things out of the way

is about forceful forward motion rather than emphasizing crowd passage
to push one's way through
vsto thrust ahead
4 3.9

Move forward by getting past people or things blocking the way

is a general strong forward movement often moving others aside
jostle
vsto thrust ahead
1 4.8

A push or bump in a crowd to get past someone

is stronger and more forceful when advancing through people, displacing them
to bum rush
vsto thrust ahead
  • Informal
1 9.6

To push into a place quickly and forcefully as a crowd

is about forward movement to get ahead rather than to attack or occupy
to plough one's way through
vsto thrust ahead
  • UK
1 7.4

To move forward with difficulty through people or things with effort

is a forceful advance that focuses on power rather than slow struggle
to push one's way past
vsto thrust ahead
  • Informal
5.6

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

is about forward motion not the specific act of forcing a passage
to bullrush through
vsto thrust ahead
  • UK
8.9

Move quickly through a crowd while pushing people aside

is strong forward motion that focuses on progress rather than speed

Antonyms

retreat
93 4.4

A move back from a place to escape danger

to recede
29 4.8

To move back or become less strong

How Forceful

to storm
70 4.4
to thrust ahead
5.7
to barge in
  • Informal
59 5.5

Surface Forms

thrust ahead infinitive
thrusting ahead present participle
thrusts ahead third person singular
thrust ahead past
thrust ahead past participle

Morphology

thrust + ahead

The meaning 'to move forward forcefully' is directly and transparently derived from 'thrust' (to shove or propel) combined with 'ahead' (forward). This literal compositional sense follows a common verb + directional adverb pattern found cross-linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows both words would readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Thrust ahead comes from the image of someone forcing their way forward with a strong push through a crowd. The parts thrust (push) and ahead (forward) explain why it means 'to move forward forcefully, often by pushing others out of the way'.