When push comes to shove

[Sidle Jinks]

Hello everybody!

Could you please tell me what does this phrase mean:

When push comes to shove?

Does it mean that the time has come to pay for one's sins?

Thank you in advance.
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Factum non fabula

[Alan]

Hi Sidle Jinks,

The meaning of this expression describes a certain situation when you are forced to act/to do something. Imagine a situation where you can't make up your mind and you friend asks you what you will do when push comes to shove - what you will do when you eventually have to make a decision. Shove as a verb means push in a rough/rude way.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Subjunctive

[Sidle Jinks]

Thank you very much, Alan, for your explanation!
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Factum non fabula