when push comes to shove

Meaning: (figuratively,idiomatic)When thepressureis on; when the situation iscriticalorurgent; when the time has come foraction, even if it is difficult.He is not a particularly talented builder, butwhen push comes to shove, he can usually get the job done.1982December 18, David France, “Protests Drive Klan Rally Out Of Washington”, inGay Community News, volume10, number22, page 1:While most chose at that time either to disband or to join the APC rally several blocks north in McPherson Park, several hundred mostly young DC-area blacks and a sizable number of militant Palestinians continued to demand their right to confront the Klan.Push somehow came to shoveand the face-off began. Several hours of street fighting followed.2020May 20, Andrew Haines talks to Stefanie Foster, “Repurpose rail for the 2020s”, inRail, page35:"We've demonstrated thatwhen push comes to shove, we can be really fast, we can be agile, we can do things more slickly.

Examples:

EN: Well, when push comes to shove, I think he'll be pleased, for all he cares about me.
ES: De hecho, creo que estaría muy feliz de que me fuera.
EN: But when push comes to shove, I'll save you by donning the white uniform of a lifer.
ES: Pero cuando el empujón llegue, le ahorraré ponerse el uniforme de cadenas perpetuas
EN: Before long Vicente Barrera and many filigrees and when push comes to shove...
ES: Antes mucho Vicente Barrera y muchas filigranas y a la hora de la verdad...
EN: Look, when push comes to shove, I'll fucking shove.
ES: Mira, cuando las cosas se ponen dificiles, yo también.
EN: But when push comes to shove, you've always done the right thing.
ES: Pero en momentos críticos, siempre hiciste lo correcto.
EN: Obviously expendable when push comes to shove.
ES: Obviamente prescindible, cuando las papas queman.
EN: You've got a hot spot for the killer babe, and when push comes to shove you follow your lower instincts, know what I mean?
ES: Tienes una debilidad por la muñeca asesina, y cuando las cosas se ponen duras tú haces caso a tus bajos instintos, ¿sabes lo que digo?
EN: Because when push comes to shove, you know, you're there.
ES: Porque cuando se trata de apoyar, ya sabes, estás allí.
EN: Sometimes the lines get a little blurred but, but when push comes to shove... - He'll do what needs to be done.
ES: A veces las líneas se hacen borrosas, pero al final de cuentas, hará lo necesario.
EN: Now, he talks a mean game about life and about death... but when push comes to shove, you'll be the one doing the dying.
ES: Habla de la vida y de la muerte... pero a la hora de la verdad, morirás tú.
EN: It's funny, it seems that when push comes to shove sometimes the only choice is to shove back.
ES: Es extraño, parece que cuando te empujan a veces la única opción es empujar de vuelta.
EN: Because when push comes to shove, they're human.
ES: No. Porque a la hora de la verdad, son humanos.
EN: I think you're one of those guys who, you know, sort of flirts with a girl, maybe even takes her to dinner, and then, you know, when push comes to shove, the only frenching you'll be doing with her are her braids.
ES: - ¿Qué? Si eres uno de esos que romancean con una chica, quizás incluso la lleves a cenar, pero llegada la hora, lo único enrevesado que podrás hacer con ella serán sus trenzas.
EN: I mean he's always talking about education and stuff, but when push comes to shove, he takes off
ES: Quiero decir que siempre habla de educación y todo eso, pero a la hora de la verdad, él se borra.
EN: But when push comes to shove Someone has to pay And you're even more foolish then me
ES: Pero cuando la presión se hace más grande... alguien debe pagar... y tú eres más tonto que yo.

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