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pushover

/ˌpʊʃˈoʊvər/
/ˈpʊʃəʊvə/
IPA guide

Other forms: pushovers

A pushover is a person who's easy to fool or influence. A substitute teacher who's a pushover is easily convinced that the class usually spends an hour watching music videos.

If you're a pushover, you find it hard to deny anyone what they ask for. If your mom's a pushover, it means it's a breeze to get her to say yes when you ask for something. A babysitter who's a pushover will let the kids stay up way past their bedtime. If you think about it, the word makes sense: if you can push someone over easily, then that person can't stand up against you. Around 1900, pushover meant "an easy job or task," and by 1922 it also referred to people.

Definitions of pushover
  1. noun
    someone who is easily taken advantage of
    see moresee less
    type of:
    flunkey, flunky, stooge, yes-man
    a person of unquestioning obedience
  2. noun
    any undertaking that is easy to do
    see moresee less
    types:
    doddle
    an easy task
    type of:
    labor, project, task, undertaking
    any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘pushover'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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