push the timetable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "push the timetable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the need to accelerate a schedule or make changes to deadlines. Example: "Due to unforeseen circumstances, we need to push the timetable for the project completion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Gov. M. Jodi Rell, realizing the delays could push the timetable back even further, ordered the transportation department to start putting any new cars that were ready into service, even if it had not yet painted over the Virginia decals.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Representatives of Oxygen said that hints that another cable channel for women, WE, might come on the market also pushed the timetable of the deal.

The New York Times

The government pushed the timetable back, saying the listing would take place by the end of the current fiscal year, which ends in March 2002.

The New York Times

While Mr. Netanyahu said in his Sept. 27 speech at the United Nations that the critical moment for preventing Iran from developing a weapon would most likely come next spring, Mr. Barak last week pushed the timetable back further, and offered a new explanation of Israel's reduced sense of urgency.

The New York Times

The EU, meanwhile, is pushing the timetable a bit, saying it wants the new deal signed in 2015.

Huffington Post

That work was expected to expand districtwide by the end of 2014, but officials changed the plan after the rollout, pushing the timetable back and testing to see if laptops might be better for older students.

Los Angeles Times

The debacle in Cancún has inevitably pushed back the timetable for reaching a new agreement to liberalise world trade.

The Economist

After it became apparent that the deadline could not be met, state officials pushed back the timetable for the printers to June 3, the date of the Congressional primary.

The New York Times

Mr. Obama, the official said, had maintained during their Oval Office meeting that the European Union's impending oil sanctions and the blacklisting of Iran's central bank could yet force Tehran back to the bargaining table — not necessarily eliminating the nuclear threat but pushing back the timetable for the development of a weapon.

The New York Times

He pointed out to Christine Lagarde, the fund's managing director, during talks in Washington last week that the government had already adopted a flexible approach to austerity by pushing back the timetable by two years for debt to peak as a share of national output.

The Guardian

A terrible accident at the end of November, when a crane collapsed on part of the roof, not only killed two workers but also pushed back the timetable for the stadium's completion.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "push the timetable", ensure the context clearly indicates whether you are accelerating the schedule or delaying it. Use clarifying words like "back" or "forward" to remove ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid assuming that "push the timetable" always means to accelerate. It can also mean to delay. Always provide enough context to clarify the intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "push the timetable" functions as a verb phrase indicating the act of modifying or altering a pre-established schedule. It's often used in contexts where adjustments to deadlines or project milestones are being discussed, according to Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "push the timetable" is a common expression used to describe altering a schedule or timeline. While generally grammatically correct, it can be ambiguous as it doesn't inherently specify whether the timetable is being accelerated or delayed; context is crucial. According to Ludwig, it's most frequently found in news and media sources, and while of neutral register, it fits a variety of professional conversations. Related phrases include "expedite the schedule" and "bring forward the deadline" (for acceleration) and "extend the deadline" and "postpone the schedule" (for delays).

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

expedite the schedule

Focuses on accelerating the process rather than just altering the dates.

accelerate the timeline

Emphasizes speeding up the overall project progression.

bring forward the deadline

Specifically addresses moving the final completion date earlier.

advance the schedule

Similar to expedite, but focuses on the scheduled events.

move up the date

A more casual way to say the date has been changed to an earlier one.

reschedule to an earlier time

Specifies that the rescheduling involves making something happen sooner.

shorten the duration

Highlights reducing the time allocated for a task or project.

tighten the schedule

Implies making the schedule more compact and efficient.

compress the timeline

Suggests making the timeline denser with activities.

bring the project forward

Indicates an overall acceleration of the project's progress.

FAQs

What does "push the timetable" mean?

The phrase "push the timetable" means to change the schedule or timeline of an event or project. It can imply either accelerating or delaying the planned events.

Is it better to say "expedite the schedule" or "push the timetable"?

While both are correct, "expedite the schedule" implies acceleration, whereas "push the timetable" is neutral and requires context to know if it's an acceleration or delay.

What's an alternative to "push the timetable" for when you want to delay something?

You could say "extend the deadline", "postpone the schedule", or "delay the project" depending on the context.

How can I use "push the timetable" in a sentence?

Example: "Due to unexpected complications, we had to push the timetable back by two weeks." or "The company is trying to push the timetable forward to launch the product earlier than planned."