barely pushing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "barely pushing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone is making a minimal effort or just managing to achieve something. Example: "He was barely pushing through the last few miles of the marathon, exhausted but determined to finish."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

You've just been named senior vice president, you've gotten a big raise, your net worth now tops $2 million, and you're barely pushing 50.

The New York Times

Barely pushing 30, the future of both of these men is uncertain.

Huffington Post

Israel has long had ups and downs in tourism numbers, only recently barely pushing to the 3 million mark, a number paling in comparison to most of its neighbors, including Jordan which for years was viewed as a sidetrip from Israel.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

But the last five kilometers, I could barely push the pedals around.

The New York Times - Sports

His family tree — with Jewish, black and Hispanic roots — includes one relative who barely pushed past 6 feet.

The New York Times - Sports

Its far less pungent film adaptation is something else: a mediocre gross-out movie that barely pushes the envelope.

The New York Times

Congress, of course, never passed any of these reforms, and, given how crowded Obama's legislative agenda was in 2010 and 2011, the President barely pushed for them.

The New Yorker

But he is convinced that Point Given was barely pushed at Pimlico and didn't see a reason to ship him to Belmont until yesterday.

The New York Times - Sports

Abdi Ali is 1 year old, so thin and weak he can barely push out a cry, and what happened to him and his family tells the story of many people here.

The New York Times

The result is a sad suburban pastoral, a strain of film you don't see much of, or not enough; it may feel somewhat stretched, and Rush's additions to Carver barely push it past ninety minutes, but anything hectic or hasty would have spoiled the mood.

The New Yorker

GYMNASTICS Hamm Wins U.S. Title Barely pushed by the rest of America's best, Paul Hamm won his third consecutive United States gymnastics championships title last night in Nashville, mastering all six disciplines on the floor and looking every bit prepared for this year's big event, the Athens Olympics.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "barely pushing", ensure the context clearly indicates what threshold or limit is being approached. The phrase implies a sense of minimal effort or achievement, so use it where that nuance is appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "barely pushing" when you want to convey significant progress or achievement. This phrase is best suited for situations where the focus is on the narrow margin by which something is accomplished.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barely pushing" functions as a modifier, typically describing the extent to which a limit or target has been reached. As demonstrated by Ludwig, it characterizes situations where something or someone is just about to reach a milestone.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "barely pushing" is a grammatically correct expression used to indicate that a limit or target has been nearly reached with minimal effort. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. Although currently rare in frequency, it is predominantly found in News & Media sources, making it appropriate for neutral to slightly informal contexts. Related phrases, such as "just exceeding" or "narrowly passing", can be used as alternatives depending on the intended nuance. When employing this phrase, clarity is key to indicate what limit is being approached. The phrase's implication highlights the importance to use it where the focus is on the narrow margin by which something is accomplished.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

narrowly passing

Implies that a standard or minimum was only just met.

just exceeding

Indicates surpassing a limit by a narrow margin.

scarcely reaching

Highlights the difficulty in attaining a specific level or target.

nearly attaining

Highlights how proximate a goal was reached.

almost attaining

Focuses on the near completion of a goal, emphasizing the closeness of the result.

only just getting to

Expresses the act of reaching a level with some effort.

virtually attaining

Emphasizes being extremely close to reaching a goal or milestone.

just about reaching

Highlights the difficulty in attaining a specific level or target.

hardly surpassing

Shows a slight margin of success over a defined benchmark.

scantily exceeding

Suggests that the achievement was done in a frugal way.

FAQs

What does "barely pushing" mean?

"Barely pushing" implies a situation where someone or something is just about reaching a certain point or target, often with minimal effort or a small margin of success.

How can I use "barely pushing" in a sentence?

You can use "barely pushing" to describe someone who is almost reaching a certain age or a statistic that is only just exceeding a particular number. For example, "He's "barely pushing 50"" or "The company is "barely pushing to the 3 million mark"".

What are some alternatives to "barely pushing"?

Alternatives include "just exceeding", "scarcely reaching", or "narrowly passing", depending on the specific context.

Is "barely pushing" grammatically correct?

Yes, "barely pushing" is grammatically correct and understandable in English. It is often used in informal contexts, but it can also appear in news and media.