Drops off with gentle pushes (5)

I believe the answer is:

prods

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'pushes' is the definition.
(prodding is a kind of pushing)

'drops off with gentle' is the wordplay.
'drops' can be anagrammed to 'PRODS'.
But, I'm unsure how this is indicated.

Can you help me to learn more?

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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