(one) has to be shoving off

(one) has to be shoving off

One has to leave or depart. "Shove 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 shoving off soon. You have to be shoving off, or you'll miss your train! I have to be shoving off if I want to make it to Pittsburgh by nightfall.

See also: off, shove, to

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