pushover
/'puʃ,ouvə/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- An easy task or undertaking: Something that requires little effort or is very simple to accomplish.
- A person who is easily persuaded, defeated, or taken advantage of: Someone who offers little resistance to pressure, influence, or manipulation.
Usage and Examples
Referring to an easy task:
- The final exam was a pushover; everyone passed easily.
- Fixing the leaky faucet turned out to be a pushover for the experienced plumber.
Referring to a person:
- Don't ask him to negotiate; he's a pushover and will agree to their first offer.
- She might seem tough, but she's a real pushover when her children ask for something.
Advanced Usage and Nuances
- The term often carries a slightly informal or colloquial tone.
- When describing a person, it can imply a lack of strength, willpower, or assertiveness, sometimes with a connotation of being gullible.
- is a common phrase used to emphasize that someone is not easily influenced or defeated.
Variants and Related Words
- Push over (verb phrase): To cause something to fall by applying force. This is a separate phrasal verb and not a variant of the noun "pushover."
- The strong winds nearly pushed over the fence.
Synonyms
- For an easy task: cinch, breeze, walkover, piece of cake, snap.
- For a person: soft touch, easy mark, sucker (slang), doormat (informal, implying one is treated with disrespect).
Idioms and Common Phrases
- Be a pushover for (something/someone): To be very fond of or easily persuaded by something or someone.
- He's a pushover for chocolate cake. (He finds it irresistible.)
- She's a pushover for a sad story. (She is easily moved to pity.)
Noun
- any undertaking that is easy to do
- marketing this product will be no picnic
- someone who is easily taken advantage of