pushover
English
editEtymology
editDeverbal from push over; US 1906 of things, 1926 of people (bad boxers and easy women),[1] popularized by Jack Conway of Variety.
Pronunciation
editNoun
editpushover (plural pushovers)
- Someone who is easily swayed or influenced to change their mind or comply.
- I'm a pushover when it comes to buying new kitchen gadgets.
- 2024 May 4, Melanie Gerlies, quoting Simon de Pury, “New claimant to €35 mn Klimt emerges”, in FT Weekend, Life & Arts, page 18:
- “His [Helmut Newton's] women are strong and powerful, definitely not pushovers,” he says.
- Someone who is easy to push around and to take advantage of; someone who lets themselves be picked on or bullied without defending or standing up for themselves.
- Something that is easy to do or accomplish; an easy task.
Synonyms
edit- (someone who is easily swayed or influenced): little girl, mollusc, nose of wax
- (someone who lets themselves be picked on or bullied): nestle-cock, softy, wuss; see also Thesaurus:milksop
Derived terms
editTranslations
editSomeone who is easily swayed or influenced to change their mind or comply
|
Someone who lets themselves be picked on or bullied
|
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “pushover”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.