push shit uphill
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Attempting to do something with great difficulty generally with little chance of success.
Register: slang, vulgar
Where it’s used:
Used
Australian English
Examples
'Well, the makers had to push shit uphill to get it approved for consumption. Apparently the FDA knocked it back eight times because one of its ingredients converts to formaldehyde in the body,' I explained.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “push shit uphill” mean?
Attempting to do something with great difficulty generally with little chance of success.
Is “push shit uphill” formal or informal?
push shit uphill is generally slang, vulgar.