The Phrasal Verb

this week in the fluency club, the topic is politely disagreeing with others. In English, politely disagreeing with someone means that we sometimes need to use some phrasal verbs. So we are here to talk about the phrasal verb “push back on.”

The meaning

So what does this phrasal verb mean? “Push back on” means to speak against, disagree with, or oppose.

How do we Use it

We use “push back on” as a phrasal verb. Remember that a phrasal verb is a verb that is made of more than one word. Because it is a verb, “push back on” needs to change when you use a different tense. We can use this phrasal verb in business English, and in normal conversations about deep topics.

Easy Examples

Business English

The boss hates it when I push back on his ideas.

I  pushed back on your point about moving the call center.

The boss is pushing back on my proposal.

Deep Conversations

Examples of deep conversations are friendly debates, discussions about what to do in a situation, and discussions about politics.

I need to push back on one point you made.

Can I push back on that a little?

The president is pushing back on the new law.

Your Turn

Now, it is your turn to try using this phrasal verb. Leave a comment with your own sentence using “push back on.” I am excited to read the sentences you make.

And, of course, do not forget to see if the fluency club is right for you!