push back

Noun

pushback (countable and uncountable, plural pushbacks)

1. The act of repelling an enemy, etc.
2. A procedure in which an aircraft is pushed backwards away from the gate by some external force, usually a special tractor.
3. (figuratively) A reversal or reduction.
   • Sweden, as well as the UK, recently announced pushbacks on green targets and budgets, while there are negative noises from Germany on building insulation costs.2023 October 10, Senay Boztas, “Frans Timmermans urges European left to unite against right’s climate backlash”, in The Guardian, →ISSN
4. (figuratively) Criticism of or resistance to a proposal, stance, or event.
   • More pushback from Hill on eavesdropping [title]2006 March 1, Peter Grier, “More pushback from Hill on eavesdropping”, in The Christian Science Monitor
5. (international law) Summary expulsion of asylum seekers, especially when violating the principle of non-refoulement.
   • "Every single pushback represents a violation of international and EU law – whether it involves violence or not."2021 May 5, Lorenzo Tondo, quoting Nicola Bay, “Revealed: 2,000 refugee deaths linked to illegal EU pushbacks”, in The Guardian
6. (US) Squashing the main video channel into part of the screen to allow another video feed to be played simultaneously; especially, to squeeze the credits of a show in order to play adverts.
   • CBS’s new brand identity end credits “pushback”2018 October 5, Michael P. Hill, “NBC forgoes complete brand overhaul, but does add new vanity card”, in Newscast Studio

   Synonyms:

   squeeze