Is “pushing at an open door” a common expression in English? [closed]

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I'm not sure if the expression "pushing at an open door" is used and understood by a native English speaker.

asked Apr 25 at 21:20

Beatsme

closed as off-topic by Cascabel, TrevorD, Chappo, JJJ, KJO May 2 at 16:36

This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:

"Please include the research you’ve done, or consider if your question suits our English Language Learners site better. Questions that can be answered using commonly-available references are off-topic." – Cascabel, TrevorD, JJJ

If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.

Have you checked dictionaries?

– user323578
Apr 25 at 21:24

idioms.thefreedictionary.com/push+at+an+open+door

– Cascabel
Apr 25 at 21:52

I've heard it, but it's not "common" in much of the US.

– Hot Licks
Apr 25 at 22:05

1

I wouldn't say it's "common" in British English - but I've heard it, know what it means, and also wouldn't say that it "uncommon"!

– TrevorD
Apr 25 at 22:48

add a comment |

I'm not sure if the expression "pushing at an open door" is used and understood by a native English speaker.

asked Apr 25 at 21:20

Beatsme

closed as off-topic by Cascabel, TrevorD, Chappo, JJJ, KJO May 2 at 16:36

This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:

"Please include the research you’ve done, or consider if your question suits our English Language Learners site better. Questions that can be answered using commonly-available references are off-topic." – Cascabel, TrevorD, JJJ

If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.

Have you checked dictionaries?

– user323578
Apr 25 at 21:24

idioms.thefreedictionary.com/push+at+an+open+door

– Cascabel
Apr 25 at 21:52

I've heard it, but it's not "common" in much of the US.

– Hot Licks
Apr 25 at 22:05

1

I wouldn't say it's "common" in British English - but I've heard it, know what it means, and also wouldn't say that it "uncommon"!

– TrevorD
Apr 25 at 22:48

add a comment |

I'm not sure if the expression "pushing at an open door" is used and understood by a native English speaker.

asked Apr 25 at 21:20

Beatsme

I'm not sure if the expression "pushing at an open door" is used and understood by a native English speaker.

expressions usage phrase-usage

asked Apr 25 at 21:20

Beatsme

asked Apr 25 at 21:20

Beatsme

asked Apr 25 at 21:20

Beatsme

asked Apr 25 at 21:20

Beatsme

asked Apr 25 at 21:20

Beatsme

closed as off-topic by Cascabel, TrevorD, Chappo, JJJ, KJO May 2 at 16:36

This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:

"Please include the research you’ve done, or consider if your question suits our English Language Learners site better. Questions that can be answered using commonly-available references are off-topic." – Cascabel, TrevorD, JJJ

If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.

closed as off-topic by Cascabel, TrevorD, Chappo, JJJ, KJO May 2 at 16:36

This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:

"Please include the research you’ve done, or consider if your question suits our English Language Learners site better. Questions that can be answered using commonly-available references are off-topic." – Cascabel, TrevorD, JJJ

If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.

Have you checked dictionaries?

– user323578
Apr 25 at 21:24

idioms.thefreedictionary.com/push+at+an+open+door

– Cascabel
Apr 25 at 21:52

I've heard it, but it's not "common" in much of the US.

– Hot Licks
Apr 25 at 22:05

1

I wouldn't say it's "common" in British English - but I've heard it, know what it means, and also wouldn't say that it "uncommon"!

– TrevorD
Apr 25 at 22:48

add a comment |

Have you checked dictionaries?

– user323578
Apr 25 at 21:24

idioms.thefreedictionary.com/push+at+an+open+door

– Cascabel
Apr 25 at 21:52

I've heard it, but it's not "common" in much of the US.

– Hot Licks
Apr 25 at 22:05

1

I wouldn't say it's "common" in British English - but I've heard it, know what it means, and also wouldn't say that it "uncommon"!

– TrevorD
Apr 25 at 22:48

Have you checked dictionaries?

– user323578
Apr 25 at 21:24

idioms.thefreedictionary.com/push+at+an+open+door

– Cascabel
Apr 25 at 21:52

I've heard it, but it's not "common" in much of the US.

– Hot Licks
Apr 25 at 22:05

I wouldn't say it's "common" in British English - but I've heard it, know what it means, and also wouldn't say that it "uncommon"!

– TrevorD
Apr 25 at 22:48

add a comment |

1 Answer
1

active

oldest

votes

Vivid idiom meaning that an action/initiative/task can be achieved easily because there is minimal resistance.

Apparently it's usage is on the up in both British and American English.

edited Apr 25 at 23:51

answered Apr 25 at 23:29

Dan

15.8k32561

I've generally interpreted it to mean "useless action".

– Hot Licks
Apr 25 at 23:39

@HotLicks - OK! Maybe it's more UK than USA - although Ngrams suggests that it's used in both countries? Here are two more links, reassuring me that I'm not making it up!! collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/push-at-an-open-door, usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/pushing+at+an+open+door.html,

– Dan
Apr 25 at 23:56

Hot Licks, not useless action, unnecessary effort. At least that's what it means to me (UK).

– Michael Harvey
Apr 26 at 6:49

It seems to be using ‘open’ in the sense of being unlocked, rather than being physically open. Not having heard this before, my mind went to the latter, which makes the saying completely ambiguous.

– Neil W
Apr 27 at 1:49

@NeilW - I'm not sure why you suppose that 'open' should mean 'umlocked'. Particularly as this choice renders the phrase confusing. Given the sense the idiom has, surely it is more straight-forward to suppose that 'open' means 'ajar'?

– Dan
Apr 27 at 13:27

add a comment |

1 Answer
1

active

oldest

votes

1 Answer
1

active

oldest

votes

Vivid idiom meaning that an action/initiative/task can be achieved easily because there is minimal resistance.

Apparently it's usage is on the up in both British and American English.

edited Apr 25 at 23:51

answered Apr 25 at 23:29

Dan

15.8k32561

I've generally interpreted it to mean "useless action".

– Hot Licks
Apr 25 at 23:39

@HotLicks - OK! Maybe it's more UK than USA - although Ngrams suggests that it's used in both countries? Here are two more links, reassuring me that I'm not making it up!! collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/push-at-an-open-door, usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/pushing+at+an+open+door.html,

– Dan
Apr 25 at 23:56

Hot Licks, not useless action, unnecessary effort. At least that's what it means to me (UK).

– Michael Harvey
Apr 26 at 6:49

It seems to be using ‘open’ in the sense of being unlocked, rather than being physically open. Not having heard this before, my mind went to the latter, which makes the saying completely ambiguous.

– Neil W
Apr 27 at 1:49

@NeilW - I'm not sure why you suppose that 'open' should mean 'umlocked'. Particularly as this choice renders the phrase confusing. Given the sense the idiom has, surely it is more straight-forward to suppose that 'open' means 'ajar'?

– Dan
Apr 27 at 13:27

add a comment |

Vivid idiom meaning that an action/initiative/task can be achieved easily because there is minimal resistance.

Apparently it's usage is on the up in both British and American English.

edited Apr 25 at 23:51

answered Apr 25 at 23:29

Dan

15.8k32561

I've generally interpreted it to mean "useless action".

– Hot Licks
Apr 25 at 23:39

@HotLicks - OK! Maybe it's more UK than USA - although Ngrams suggests that it's used in both countries? Here are two more links, reassuring me that I'm not making it up!! collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/push-at-an-open-door, usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/pushing+at+an+open+door.html,

– Dan
Apr 25 at 23:56

Hot Licks, not useless action, unnecessary effort. At least that's what it means to me (UK).

– Michael Harvey
Apr 26 at 6:49

It seems to be using ‘open’ in the sense of being unlocked, rather than being physically open. Not having heard this before, my mind went to the latter, which makes the saying completely ambiguous.

– Neil W
Apr 27 at 1:49

@NeilW - I'm not sure why you suppose that 'open' should mean 'umlocked'. Particularly as this choice renders the phrase confusing. Given the sense the idiom has, surely it is more straight-forward to suppose that 'open' means 'ajar'?

– Dan
Apr 27 at 13:27

add a comment |

Vivid idiom meaning that an action/initiative/task can be achieved easily because there is minimal resistance.

Apparently it's usage is on the up in both British and American English.

edited Apr 25 at 23:51

answered Apr 25 at 23:29

Dan

15.8k32561

Vivid idiom meaning that an action/initiative/task can be achieved easily because there is minimal resistance.

Apparently it's usage is on the up in both British and American English.

edited Apr 25 at 23:51

answered Apr 25 at 23:29

Dan

15.8k32561

edited Apr 25 at 23:51

answered Apr 25 at 23:29

Dan

15.8k32561

answered Apr 25 at 23:29

Dan

15.8k32561

answered Apr 25 at 23:29

Dan

15.8k32561

I've generally interpreted it to mean "useless action".

– Hot Licks
Apr 25 at 23:39

@HotLicks - OK! Maybe it's more UK than USA - although Ngrams suggests that it's used in both countries? Here are two more links, reassuring me that I'm not making it up!! collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/push-at-an-open-door, usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/pushing+at+an+open+door.html,

– Dan
Apr 25 at 23:56

Hot Licks, not useless action, unnecessary effort. At least that's what it means to me (UK).

– Michael Harvey
Apr 26 at 6:49

It seems to be using ‘open’ in the sense of being unlocked, rather than being physically open. Not having heard this before, my mind went to the latter, which makes the saying completely ambiguous.

– Neil W
Apr 27 at 1:49

@NeilW - I'm not sure why you suppose that 'open' should mean 'umlocked'. Particularly as this choice renders the phrase confusing. Given the sense the idiom has, surely it is more straight-forward to suppose that 'open' means 'ajar'?

– Dan
Apr 27 at 13:27

add a comment |

I've generally interpreted it to mean "useless action".

– Hot Licks
Apr 25 at 23:39

@HotLicks - OK! Maybe it's more UK than USA - although Ngrams suggests that it's used in both countries? Here are two more links, reassuring me that I'm not making it up!! collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/push-at-an-open-door, usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/pushing+at+an+open+door.html,

– Dan
Apr 25 at 23:56

Hot Licks, not useless action, unnecessary effort. At least that's what it means to me (UK).

– Michael Harvey
Apr 26 at 6:49

It seems to be using ‘open’ in the sense of being unlocked, rather than being physically open. Not having heard this before, my mind went to the latter, which makes the saying completely ambiguous.

– Neil W
Apr 27 at 1:49

@NeilW - I'm not sure why you suppose that 'open' should mean 'umlocked'. Particularly as this choice renders the phrase confusing. Given the sense the idiom has, surely it is more straight-forward to suppose that 'open' means 'ajar'?

– Dan
Apr 27 at 13:27

I've generally interpreted it to mean "useless action".

– Hot Licks
Apr 25 at 23:39

@HotLicks - OK! Maybe it's more UK than USA - although Ngrams suggests that it's used in both countries? Here are two more links, reassuring me that I'm not making it up!! collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/push-at-an-open-door, usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/pushing+at+an+open+door.html,

– Dan
Apr 25 at 23:56

Hot Licks, not useless action, unnecessary effort. At least that's what it means to me (UK).

– Michael Harvey
Apr 26 at 6:49

It seems to be using ‘open’ in the sense of being unlocked, rather than being physically open. Not having heard this before, my mind went to the latter, which makes the saying completely ambiguous.

– Neil W
Apr 27 at 1:49

@NeilW - I'm not sure why you suppose that 'open' should mean 'umlocked'. Particularly as this choice renders the phrase confusing. Given the sense the idiom has, surely it is more straight-forward to suppose that 'open' means 'ajar'?

– Dan
Apr 27 at 13:27

add a comment |

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