(one) has to be pushing off

(one) has to be pushing off

One has to leave or depart. "Push off" is a nautical term, referring to the act of pushing against a dock in order to move one's boat away from the shore. We both need to be up early tomorrow, so we have to be pushing off soon. You have to be pushing off, or you'll miss your train! I have to be pushing off if I want to make it to Pittsburgh by nightfall.

See also: off, pushing, to

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.