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Meaning & use

push the boat out

phrase·AdvancedinformalBritish

Last updated

UK/ˌpʊʃ ðə ˈbəʊt aʊt/
US/ˌpʊʃ ðə ˈboʊt aʊt/

Meanings

  1. phraseidiominformalBritish

    to spend more money than usual on something special, especially a celebration.

    Grammar: Used without an object: We really pushed the boat out. You can add 'for' plus the occasion: push the boat out for her birthday.

    Patterns

    • push the boat out
    • push the boat out for something
    • really push the boat out

    They pushed the boat out for their parents' anniversary dinner.

    We don't usually eat here, but let's push the boat out tonight.

    She pushed the boat out and booked a table at the best restaurant in town.

  2. phraseidiominformalBritish

    to make a special effort to do something well or to celebrate in a big way.

    Grammar: Often used with 'really' or 'for' plus the person or event: They really pushed the boat out for the team.

    Patterns

    • push the boat out for someone
    • really push the boat out

    The whole street pushed the boat out for the street party.

    He pushed the boat out and cooked a three-course meal.

Common combinations

really push the boat out
It's her fiftieth, so we should really push the boat out.
push the boat out for
They pushed the boat out for their daughter's graduation.
push the boat out and buy
We pushed the boat out and bought the good champagne.
decide to push the boat out
After a good year, the owners decided to push the boat out.
push the boat out on something
Don't push the boat out on decorations; the food matters more.

Synonyms and how they differ

go all out
Go all out means to make a big effort and is used in both British and American English; push the boat out often suggests spending money too.
splash out
Splash out is also British and informal but focuses on buying something expensive; push the boat out is broader and often about a celebration.
spare no expense
Spare no expense is more formal and means money is no object; push the boat out is lighter and more conversational.

Opposites

cut cornerstighten your belt

Commonly confused: push the boat out or rock the boat? push the boat out or miss the boat?

push the boat out vs rock the boat

Rock the boat means to cause trouble by changing a stable situation; push the boat out means to spend or celebrate generously.

push the boat out vs miss the boat

Miss the boat means to lose an opportunity by being too slow, which is very different from spending freely.

Practice

It's my parents' fortieth anniversary, so we're going to ___ and book the whole restaurant.

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