pushing off
Starting to leave
Pushing off is departing or leaving, often casually or abruptly: Well, I'd better be pushing off—early morning tomorrow.
The phrase evokes the motion of pushing a boat away from a dock to begin a journey.
In physical contexts, pushing off describes using force against a surface to propel oneself: She pushed off from the wall of the pool.
Forceful forward motion
- shovePush with force
- kickFoot-delivered strike
- forceStrength or compulsion
- momentumProduct of mass, velocity
impulse · leverage · launching · springing · vaulting · diving · jumping · leaping
Act of going away
- embarkationBeginning a voyage
- launchSet into motion
- kickoffOpening play in football
- setting outBeginning a journey
beginning · commencement · outset · onset · initiation · setting sail · undocking · disembarking
Abrupt, curt rejection
- brushoffAbrupt, curt rejection
- cold shoulderIntentional dismissive treatment
- snubDeliberate dismissive rejection
- dismissalRemoval from position
refusal · rejection · spurning · turning away · shutting out · deflecting · repelling · distancing
Rescheduling for later
- deferringPostponing or yielding respectfully
- procrastinatingPostponing what needs doing
- stallingIntentional delay tactics
- tablingDeferring formal discussion
shelving · rescheduling · delaying · buying time · rain check
thrust
Forceful forward motion
momentum · impulse · leverage · launching · springing · vaulting · diving · jumping · leaping · bounding
departure
Act of going away
- embarkationBeginning a voyage
- launchSet into motion
- kickoffOpening play in football
setting out · beginning · commencement · outset · onset · initiation · setting sail · undocking · disembarking · heading out
rebuff
Abrupt, curt rejection
- brushoffAbrupt, curt rejection
- cold shoulderIntentional dismissive treatment
- snubDeliberate dismissive rejection
dismissal · refusal · rejection · spurning · turning away · shutting out · deflecting · repelling · distancing · rebuffing
postponing
Rescheduling for later
- deferringPostponing or yielding respectfully
- procrastinatingPostponing what needs doing
- stallingIntentional delay tactics
tabling · shelving · rescheduling · delaying · buying time · rain check
- skatingskating, ice skating, roller skating, figure skating, inline skating
- swimmingswimming, swimmer, swimmers, swim team, swim teams
- setting sailsetting sail, weighing anchor, putting to sea, undocking, embarking
- sledding activitiestobogganing, tubing, snow tubing, bobsledding, luging
pushing offstaying
Continuing in place
remaining · lingering · staying put · sticking around · hanging around
pushing offpulling in
Reaching a destination
reeling in · attracting · grasping · clutching · embracing
push, off, pushes, pushed, pusher, pushers, pushing, offs, pushup