at a push"

The hotel might be able to accommodate 50 people if they didn't mind a bit of crowding. Perhaps some large single rooms would be temporarily converted to doubles or an extra bed would be moved into a double room.

Re: at a push"


Means you could put 50 people into the hotel, but that they'd e very crowded.

Is it possible to mean "at the time of emergency"?

In an emergency, overcrowding would be more acceptable--even necessary--but that would be "pushing" the meaning of the phrase.

Think about someone stuffing a bag full. And then more full. That would be pushing the capacity of the bag. It makes no difference whether you are stuffing the bag or booking rooms in the hotel in normal times or in an emergency.

In either situation you are going beyond recommended capacity.