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hiromichi



Joined: 12 Oct 2005
Posts: 1380

PostPosted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 12:03 pm    Post subject: push back Reply with quote

Should "push back on" below be "push back"? Why is 'back' necessary?

�We pushed back on the undue influence of special interests,� Mr. Obama said. �We didn�t give in to mistrust or to cynicism or to fear. Instead, we proved that we are still a people capable of doing big things.�
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pugachevV



Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 2295

PostPosted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 1:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Push back means to resist, in the vernacular.

He could also have pushed against special interests.
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hiromichi



Joined: 12 Oct 2005
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PostPosted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 3:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

pugachevV:
Thank you. Let me ask again. Why "push back on" not "push back"?
This was my intended question, but I made a typo.
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pugachevV



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PostPosted: Wed Mar 24, 2010 5:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

It's the way the President speaks, I guess. I think against would have been better than on.

"We resisted", or "opposed the special interests....etc" would have been better English.
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hiromichi



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PostPosted: Wed Mar 24, 2010 5:21 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

pugachevV:
Thank you very much.
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