Definition of the word rush through

The phrase "rush through" is a phrasal verb that means to move quickly and expeditiously, almost to the point of being hasty and careless. This expression is derived from the noun "rush," which originated in Middle English around the 14th century and referred to a mass of people moving or pressing together. The word "rush" likely comes from the Old Norse "rothr," meaning "crowd" or "press," which was brought to England by Viking invaders in the 9th century. The noun "rush" grew in popularity in the following centuries, leading to the formation of related expressions such as "rush hour" (first used in the late 19th century) and "rush job" (which emerged in the early 1900s). The phrasal verb "rush through" first appeared in the late 1800s and reflects the derogatory sense of "rush" as hasty or careless. Today, it is widely used in a variety of contexts, from describing someone's actions in a chaotic and hurried manner to indicating the speed at which a task is completed. The evolution of the word "rush" exemplifies the historical and linguistic connections between Old Norse, Middle English, and Modern English. It demonstrates how English has been enriched by external influences, and how language patterns and expressions change over time.