Green’s Dictionary of Slang

pertaining to bureaucracy, clerking, paperwork.

1877		State Journal (Jefferson City, MO) 31 Aug. 2/2: They were engaged, but alas! could not marry, as that would cause the dismissal of one or the other, and this the poor pen-driving doves could not afford.
1908		‘Doss Chiderdoss’ ‘Unciariasis’ Sporting Times 4 July 1/4: His ‘workophobia’ was shared / By each pen-pushing neighbour.
1932		M. Marshall Travels of Tramp-Royal 140: You may be only a pen-pushing clerk in an office.
1940		E. Curry Hysterical Hist. of Aus. 175: And now, my pen-pushing puddenheads, we come to the final chapter.
1971		A. Buzo The Roy Murphy Show (1973) 110: This piddling, puerile, pusillanimous, pen-pushing, pie-eating Pariah.
1985		R.G. Barrett You Wouldn’t Be Dead for Quids (1989) 132: Why can’t they open the bloody banks on Sunday? [...] Lazy pen-pushin’ bastards.
1998		I. Welsh Filth 17: Nae pen-pushing cunts are stopping that.