pushingpush‧ing /ˈpʊʃɪŋ/ preposition 
Sheila must be pushing 40 by now.
Longman Language Activatoralmost a number, time, or amount
use this to say that something is a little less than a number or amount, or a little before a particular time. Almost and nearly have the same meaning, but almost is much more common than nearly in American English. In British English both words are common: · I've been a teacher for nearly 10 years now.· We had money and almost $1000 in traveler's checks.· John is three years old and Sally is almost six.very nearly: · It's very nearly time to go home.
use this when you want to emphasize that something is a little less than a number or amount, or a little before a particular time: · "Is he 60?" "Not quite!"· It's not quite time to go yet.
also close on British almost a particular number, amount, especially a surprisingly large one, or almost a particular time, especially a very late time: · The government spends close to $100 billion a year on education.· There must be close to a hundred people in the hall.· We drove close on 500 miles Saturday.· It was close on midnight by the time they got home.
almost a particular number, amount, time etc, and still increasing or getting nearer to that number, amount, time etc: · In the North East, the unemployment rate is now nearing 20 percent.be fast approaching (=very nearly a particular time): · By now the winter was fast approaching, and further travel would soon be inadvisable.
British informal to be almost a particular time, age, or period of time: it's getting on for something: · It's getting on for 10 years since we last saw each other.· It must be getting on for lunch time. I'm starving.somebody is getting on for 40, 50 etc (=use this when guessing an older person's age): · "How old's Diane?" "She must be getting on for 50."
informal to be almost forty, fifty etc - use this when you are guessing an older person's age : · Burt's probably pushing 50 by now.
darkness someone or something that is dead has stopped living: · She's no longer breathing - I think she's dead.· The dead man's wife was questioned by police.· The doctor told him that unless he stopped drinking he would be dead within a year.· It was autumn, and the path was covered in dead leaves.· These flowers look dead - shall I throw them away?· Following the shoot-out six people were dead and three were wounded.dead on arrival (=already dead when arriving at a hospital): · One of the gunshot victims was pronounced dead on arrival at City Hospital.
formal use this as a polite way of talking about someone who has died, especially someone who died recently: somebody's late husband/wife/mother/father: · She set up the fund in memory of her late husband.the late President Marcos/John Lennon etc: · He is a big fan of reggae music and the late Bob Marley.
informal completely dead - use this when you are completely certain that someone or something is dead: · By the time we found him he was stone-dead.· Tom poked the bird with a stick. "Yeah, it's as dead as a doornail."
something that is lifeless shows no sign of life - use this about someone's body, or someone's hand or face: · He took the dead girl's hand. It felt cold and lifeless.· The men found Dunlap's lifeless body slumped in the front seat of his car.
especially written people who have died - use this especially about people who died in wars or accidents: · a religious service to commemorate the dead of two World Wars· Four of the dead had been travelling in the same car.· Ordinary Americans are beginning the heart-breaking task of counting their dead.
formal a dead person, especially one who has died recently - used especially in news reports and legal contexts: · The deceased died from an overdose of diet pills.
given to someone or done for someone after they die: · Bentley's relatives are demanding a posthumous pardon from the government.
spoken if someone is pushing up daisies , they are dead - used humorously: · He talks about spending his parents' money as if they were already pushing up daisies.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES a young woman pushing a pram Everyone was pushing and shoving to see the prince.
a young woman pushing a pram Everyone was pushing and shoving to see the prince.PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
be pushing 40/60 etc spoken to be nearly 40, 60 etc years old – used only about older people: - It's lucky I was sent here, to Hepzibah, or I'd be pushing up daisies.
Sheila must be pushing 40 by now.