shove aside

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "shove aside" is correct and usable in written English.
It is a phrasal verb that means to push aside, usually with physical force. You can use it when you want to indicate that something or someone has been physically moved aside. For example: He shoved aside the furniture to make room.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

General Usage

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

43 human-written examples

Office workers shove aside dawdling tourists, or try to.

The Guardian

I refereed many fights, usually as the sullen teenagers tried to shove aside the little ones.

The New York Times

Within no time at all, they will shove aside their more polite and highly bred parents.

The New York Times

Several new parties are running on a "clean hands" ticket, hoping to shove aside dinosaurs like the SDKÚ.

The Economist

But there's a real risk that this one "work" in the Hirshhorn collection could shove aside all the others.

The Washington Post

But being in the mix does not mean nuclear energy will shove aside fossil fuels any time soon.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

Some had been shoved aside, literally.

The New York Times

We are just shoved aside.

The Guardian

But these new memoirs cannot be shoved aside so easily.

The New York Times - Books

Some of his elders are unwilling to be shoved aside.

The Economist

Can democracy be shoved aside in the battle against poverty?

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "shove aside" when you want to convey a sense of forceful or dismissive removal. For example, "The company shoved aside its competitors with aggressive marketing."

Common error

While "shove aside" is acceptable, it can sound too informal or aggressive in some contexts. Consider using more neutral alternatives like "disregard" or "bypass" in formal documents.

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "shove aside" functions as a dynamic verb, indicating an action of physically or metaphorically displacing something or someone. Ludwig provides numerous examples illustrating its use in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Sports

15%

General Usage

10%

Less common in

Science

9%

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrasal verb "shove aside" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to describe the act of forcefully removing or dismissing something, either physically or metaphorically. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely used across various contexts, although it may be perceived as somewhat informal in certain settings. Its prevalence in news media and general conversation underscores its familiarity. While alternatives like "push away" or "disregard" may offer a more neutral tone in formal contexts, "shove aside" effectively conveys a sense of forceful displacement or rejection.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

push away

Replaces "shove" with "push", a gentler term for moving something.

brush off

Implies dismissing something quickly and without much thought.

move past

Suggests progressing beyond a problem or obstacle.

disregard

Focuses on ignoring or paying no attention to something, rather than physical movement.

bypass

Implies going around or avoiding something.

set aside

Suggests temporarily putting something to the side for later consideration.

override

Indicates having authority to cancel or reject something.

oust

Implies removing someone from a position or place, often forcefully.

supplant

Indicates replacing something with something else, often something better.

overrule

Suggests rejecting a decision or proposal.

FAQs

How can I use "shove aside" in a sentence?

You can use "shove aside" to describe physically pushing something or someone out of the way, or figuratively to mean disregarding or ignoring something. For example, "He "shoved aside" the debris to clear a path."

What are some alternatives to "shove aside"?

You can use alternatives like "push away", "brush off", or "disregard" depending on the context.

Is "shove aside" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "shove aside" may sound too informal or aggressive in certain formal contexts. Consider alternatives like "set aside" or "bypass" for a more neutral tone.

What is the difference between "shove aside" and "ignore"?

"Shove aside" often implies a more active and forceful rejection or dismissal, while "ignore" simply means to pay no attention to something. Shoving aside can be physical or metaphorical, whereas ignoring is primarily a lack of attention.