high-maintenance and push-over

[nasridine]

I was watching Friends yesterday. Monica was called"High-maintenance" while Rachel is called "push-over". What exactly do these two words mean?

 

[GenJen54]

Hi nasridine,

HERE is another thread that explains "high-maintenance" very well.

We really should start another thread about "push-over." In brief, however, a push-over is someone who is gullible and easily persuaded by others.

 

[nycphotography]

high maintenance = she requires a lot of attention and care

pushover = someone who is easily convinced, controlled, or manipulated. they have little will power.

 

[nasridine]

So both are nouns of adj?

 

[GenJen54]

"High maintenance" is an adjective, although its use with the linking verb "be" makes it function like a noun.

Susan's not really high-maintenance. In fact, she's very down-to-earth and easy-going.

Monica, on the other hand, is very high-maintenance.

Push-over is a noun.
Rachel is such a push-over. She'll believe anything you tell her.

 

[elroy]

I think "push-over" has less to do with believing everything people tell you and more to do with letting people "walk all over you" - easily submitting to pressure, bending over backwards to please people, not really thinking for yourself.

 

[foxfirebrand]

"High maintenance" is an adjective, although its use with the linking verb "be" makes it function like a noun.

I'd say it's the other way around. Literally high (adj) + maintenance (noun0, but in "she's very high-maintenance " the subjective complement is very adjectival in function-- otherwise how could it be modified by the adverb "very?" Compare "she's very neurotic." "She's a self-starter" is more a nominal objective complement-- i.e., "self-starter" is clearly a noun.

Why has no one mentioned that a pushover is an easy lay? To me that's the primary definition, by far. Susie Round-Heels.
.

 

[Brioche]

Great minds think alike, Firefox.
I was waiting for the sexual connotation of "push over".

 

[french4beth]

pushover (from thefreedictionary.com):

one that is easily defeated or taken advantage of; person of unquestioning obedience

 

[maxiogee]

Why has no one mentioned that a pushover is an easy lay? To me that's the primary definition, by far. Susie Round-Heels.
.

This, sadly, says more about the quality of the company foxfirebrand keeps, than it does about his vocabulary!