pushback

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
   • Moreover, when Democrats, notably former House minority leader Richard Gephardt, finally put their heads up in the late spring of 2002 to ask questions about that Aug. 6, 2001, memo warning of the possibility of terrorist attacks, the Republican pushback was furious.2006 September 29, E. J. Dionne Jr., “Why Bill Clinton Pushed Back”, in Washington Post
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
   • Jasmin Redjepi, president of Legis, said the “disturbing and degrading” pushbacks came shortly after an EU-Serbian border cooperation summit, aimed at strengthening the Serbian border against people-smuggling operations.2024 February 22, Katy Fallon, Lorenzo Tondo, “Videos show migrants stripped of clothing in freezing temperatures at Serbian border”, in The Guardian, →ISSN
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