push shit uphill

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push shit uphill (third-person singular simple present pushes shit uphill, present participle pushing shit uphill, simple past and past participle pushed shit uphill)

1. (Australia, slang, vulgar) Attempting to do something with great difficulty generally with little chance of success.
   • 2012, Tamra Mercieca, Getting Naked: The Dating Game, page 161:

     '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.