pull1 verbpull2 noun
pullpull1 /pʊl/ ●●● S1 W1 verb 
WORD ORIGINpull1
Origin:
Old English pullianVERB TABLE
pull
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | pull |
| he, she, it | pulls | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | pulled |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have pulled |
| he, she, it | has pulled | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had pulled |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will pull |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have pulled |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am pulling |
| he, she, it | is pulling | |
| you, we, they | are pulling | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was pulling |
| you, we, they | were pulling | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been pulling |
| he, she, it | has been pulling | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been pulling |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be pulling |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been pulling |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Pull the chair nearer to the fire.
- a tractor pulling a plough
- a train pulling 64 boxcars
- Bagert is expected to pull just enough votes to win.
- Crawford had been ordered to take a day's rest after pulling a leg muscle.
- Don't start pulling yet - wait till I say go.
- Everyone took hold of the rope and pulled hard.
- He pulled her towards him and kissed her.
- I pulled a muscle trying to move the piano into the apartment.
- Sampras dropped out of the tournament after pulling a calf muscle.
- She's going to have her wisdom teeth pulled.
- She raised the gun and pulled the trigger.
- She was angry enough to pull her kids from the school.
- The car seems to be pulling to the left.
- The Queen's carriage was pulled by two white horses.
- The team was pulled at the last minute.
- You need to pull this lever to start the machine.
- Eventually a farmer on a tractor pulled up.
- He pulled up for the jumper and it rolled nicely in the rim.
- I can hear him pulling on his goddamn cigarette.
- I put my hand into my jacket pocket, felt for the pack, and pulled one out.
- If you can pull the paper out easily, the seals probably need replacing.
- Marcus then undid Patrick's pyjama jacket and started to try to pull it off, then decided not to.
- That bloke who keeps pulling his double set of teeth out had pinched the lot.
THESAURUS
to make something or someone move in the direction that your hands are moving: · He pulled her towards him and kissed her.· Sam was pulling on his socks.
to pull something suddenly with a short quick movement, often to get someone’s attention: · ‘Look,’ he said, tugging at his brother’s sleeve.· I tugged at the drawer but it wouldn’t open.
to pull something along the ground, especially because it is heavy: · If we can’t lift the piano, we’ll have to drag it.
to pull something big and heavy using a lot of effort, especially upwards and using a rope: · They hauled their boats further up the beach.· fishermen hauling in their nets
to pull or lift something very heavy, especially with one movement: · He heaved the sack of sand onto his shoulder.
formal to pull something or someone gently in a particular direction: · Lisa reached for his hand but he drew it away.
to be attached to a vehicle or piece of machinery and make it move behind you in the direction you are going: · Ten dogs were pulling a sledge over the ice.· a tractor pulling a plough
to pull a vehicle behind – used about a vehicle, a boat, or a horse pulling something using a rope or chain: · The car in front of us was towing a caravan.· Horses were used to tow the boats along the canals.
to pull a vehicle such as a carriage – used especially about horses doing this: · a carriage drawn by four horses· a horse-drawn cart
Longman Language Activatorto pull something with your hands to hold something and make it move towards you by moving your arms: · You need to pull this lever to start the machine.pull something up/towards/away etc: · He pulled her towards him and kissed her.· Pull the chair nearer to the fire.pull hard (=pull using a lot of effort): · Everyone took hold of the rope and pulled hard.
to pull something using one or more short quick movements: · The little girl was tugging her mother's sleeve, trying to get her attention.tug at: · We tugged at the door but it still wouldn't open.
to pull someone or something slowly and smoothly in a particular direction: draw something in/up/back/near etc: · She took my hand and drew me closer.· He wound in the line, steadily drawing the fish towards the bank.· Paula drew back the sheet and looked at the sleeping child.draw the curtains/drapes (=pull them so that they cover the windows): · It was getting dark so I drew the curtains and switched on the light.
to pull something suddenly to pull something with a sudden quick movement: · He jerked the string and the light came on.jerk something away/back/down etc: · Isabel jerked her hand away from his and shoved it in her pocket.
to pull something or someone with one sudden, quick and forceful movement, especially out of somewhere or away from something: · The other girls surrounded her, calling her names and yanking her hair.· Buddy yanked the drawer open, and took out the gun.yank something away/out/back etc: · His friends grabbed him and yanked him to his feet.· The child's mother caught him just in time, and yanked him away from the kerb.
to pull something heavy to make a vehicle or piece of machinery move along behind - use this especially about animals or heavy vehicles that are attached to something they are pulling: · The Queen's carriage was pulled by two white horses.· a tractor pulling a plough
to pull something or someone along the ground, especially because they are too heavy to carry: drag something along/over/away etc: · One of the firemen went back in and dragged my husband out through the flames.· Pick up your chairs, children. Don't drag them along the floor.
to pull something heavy with a strong continuous movement, often using a rope: haul something along/out/away etc: · Somehow we managed to haul the boat out of the water and onto the bank.haul in a net/rope (=pull it towards you): · At about five o'clock the beach was full of activity, with the fishermen hauling in their nets.
if a vehicle or boat tows something, it pulls it behind it: · What's the speed limit for cars towing trailers?tow something to/from/along etc: · The damaged ship was towed to the nearest port.tow something away (=tow a vehicle to a place where it can be repaired, or where it is not causing a problem): · The police had towed his car away because it was blocking the road.
to pull something very heavy with one great effort: · Everyone pull together now. Are you ready? Heave!heave something onto/into/over etc: · Rod bent down and heaved the sack onto his shoulder.
a plane, ship, train, bus etc arrives · What time does his flight arrive?· The train isn't due to arrive until 4.30.arrive at/in/from · Our flight arrived in Osaka two hours ahead of schedule.· Supply ships have started arriving at ports along the East coast.
to arrive -- use this when you are talking about the time when a train, ship, or plane arrives: · What time does your flight get in?· Hopefully the bus will get in by 8 o'clock.get in to: · The ferry gets in to Harwich around noon.
if a plane lands , it arrives at an airport: · Despite severe weather conditions, the Boeing 727 landed as scheduled.land at: · When the plane landed at JFK, it was three hours late.land in: · Before landing in Algiers, we circled the airport several times.come in to land (=go down towards the ground at an airport): · There's a plane coming in to land now.
if a plane, ship, or train comes in , it arrives in the place where you are waiting: · Has the Air India flight come in yet?· Crowds had gathered at the harbour to watch the ship come in.
if a ship docks , it arrives at a port: dock at/in: · When the ship docked at Southampton its cargo was immediately inspected.· We finally docked in Portland, Maine, happy to be on dry land again.
if a train, car, or bus pulls in , it arrives at the station or the place where you are waiting: · Finally the bus pulled in, forty minutes late.· Just as the train was pulling in, there was a shout and someone fell onto the track.
if you say that a plane, train or ship is in , it has arrived at the airport, station etc where you are waiting: · Their plane's in, but it'll take them a little while to get through customs.· As her train wasn't in yet, she went to the bookstall and flipped through the magazines.
: incoming plane/flight/train etc a place, train etc that is arriving somewhere rather than leaving: · All incoming flights are being delayed by fog.· The crash occurred when a freight train collided with an incoming passenger train.
to move backwards to walk backwards in a particular direction, especially in order to leave a room or building: · Hardy backed slowly toward the door.· Simms quietly backed out of the office, his face red with embarrassment.· When she was sure the baby was asleep, she backed softly through the bedroom door.
to walk slowly backwards, especially to get further away from someone or to avoid a dangerous situation: · "Are you crazy?'' she cried, backing away.back away from: · We slowly backed away from the rattlesnake.
especially American to move backwards a little, for example in order to give someone enough space to move: · Back up a bit so that everyone can see.· Can you back up a few steps so that I can open the door?
to walk backwards or away from the direction you were walking before, especially in order to avoid an embarrassing or unpleasant situation: · Jim saw me approaching and quickly retreated down a side street.retreat from/into/to etc: · "You haven't heard the last of this!'' shouted Spencer, retreating up the stairs.
to take one step or a few steps backwards: · Myers quickly stepped back into the house when he caught sight of us.· As the lights of a car approached he stepped back into the shadows.
to suddenly move part or all of your body backwards, away from something that is unpleasant or frightening: · She looked at the dead body and recoiled.recoil from: · She recoiled from his touch.
to move quickly and suddenly backwards in order to get away from someone, especially because you are upset, angry, or frightened: · When Helen took his arm he tried to pull away.· I tried to kiss her but she pulled away.
what you say to someone when you do not believe them spoken informal say this when you are very surprised by what someone has just said and cannot believe that it is true: · They got married! You're kidding!· "When he sat down, the chair just collapsed." "You're joking."
/come on spoken informal say this when you cannot believe what someone has said, and you think they do not really believe it themselves: · "He kind of reminds me of myself at that age." "Oh come off it. When you were that age all you wanted to do was have fun."· Oh come on Keith - do you really expect me to believe that?
spoken informal say this when you do not believe something that someone has said, and you think they are deliberately telling you something that is not true: · "I really wanted to come, but I overslept." "Yeah, right. Then why didn't you set your alarm?"
spoken say this when you think someone is telling you something that they know is not true: · "I was going to pay the money back as soon as I saw you." "Yeah. Likely story!"
British spoken say this when it is very clear that someone is not telling you the truth or that they are trying to trick you: · Oh, pull the other one, John. You can't seriously expect me to believe that!
American spoken say this when you think that something is very surprising or that someone is not telling you the truth or is trying to trick you: · "I got the car for just $350 dollars." "Get out of here!"
spoken say this when you think someone is lying to you and you want to show them that you are not stupid enough to believe it: · You can't expect me to trust you after all the other promises you've broken, you know. I wasn't born yesterday.
to control your feelings if you control yourself or control your feelings, you continue to behave calmly and sensibly and do not become too angry, excited, or upset: control yourself/himself etc: · She was really annoying me, but I managed to control myself and not say anything.control your temper: · I wish he'd learn to control his temper.
the ability to behave calmly and sensibly and not become too angry, excited, or upset, even when you have a good reason to: · The German team showed amazing self-control throughout the game.
to manage to stay calm and not become angry, especially when someone is trying to make you angry: · I knew they were trying to annoy me but I was determined to keep my temper.· Police officers are expected to keep their tempers whatever people say to them.· It took all her patience just to keep her temper.
the ability to make yourself work hard, take a lot of exercise, not eat the wrong foods etc because you know it is good for you to do so: · I don't know if I've enough self-discipline to work full-time and go to night school.· We try to teach the children self-reliance and self-discipline.
to stop yourself doing or saying something, especially something that might have a harmful result: · I was tempted to stay for another drink, but in the end I restrained myself and went home.restrain yourself from: · So far I have managed to restrain myself from phoning up to complain.
to suddenly start to control yourself after you have been very sad or upset and make yourself feel better again: · You've been in this mood for days now -- I wish you'd snap out of it.· He's so depressed. He doesn't seem able to snap out of it at all.
spoken say this when you want someone to stop behaving in a very emotional way, especially when they are so frightened or upset that they cannot control the way they are behaving: · Come on, calm down, get a grip on yourself.· Occasionally Georgie would find Tommy crying, and he'd tell him to get a grip on himself.
spoken say this when you want someone to stop behaving emotionally, especially when you are a little annoyed or embarrassed at the way they are behaving: · Pull yourself together. It's ridiculous to get upset about such a silly little thing.· His father was not one to hand out sympathy, but would simply tell him to "pull himself together".
to move faster than someone or something else to pass another vehicle on the road and move in front of it because you are going faster: · I turned around and saw that, out of the dust and the crowd, another car was pulling ahead to join us.pull ahead of: · With the finish line in sight, Wallace pulled ahead of the pack and drove to victory.
to move far in front of someone who cannot run, walk, drive etc as fast as you: · We were all running to catch the bus, but the others had longer legs and gradually left me behind.leave somebody way behind (=a long way behind): · Dinah urged her horse on until she had left all the other riders way behind.
informal to move very far in front of someone, especially in a race, because you are much faster than them: · Collins accelerated around the final turn and left the other runners standing.
to speak honestly to be honest in what you say: · He wouldn't believe that I was telling the truth.· When you testify in court, you have to swear to tell the truth.tell somebody the truth: · Tell me the truth - does this dress make me look fat?
spoken say this before giving your honest opinion, especially when your opinion may sound unkind or surprising: · To be honest, I don't really like babies.· I wish I'd never met him, to be quite honest.· To be honest with you, I never expected him to get the job.· In all honesty, I've got no idea where she's living now.
spoken you say to be frank or frankly before giving your honest opinion, especially when your opinion may sound unkind or shocking : · To be frank, George isn't very good at the job.· Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn.· Well, frankly, I think this proves that there are a lot of people making laws in this country who don't really know what they're doing.
to be honest with someone, especially when they have asked you to give them the correct story, reason etc: · I promise I won't get angry. Just level with me and tell me what happened.· I'm going to level with you - some of the other managers don't think you're ready for a promotion.
to be honest and give someone all the facts about a situation, even if they are unpleasant: · I told her straight that she was wrong. · The people who report to me have to be willing to tell it like it is.
to say exactly what you think even if it offends people: · She believes in speaking her mind, which makes her very unpopular.· Larry isn't afraid to speak his mind, even in front of the boss.
to say what you think in a way that you know might offend other people: · Helmut didn't mince any words in his criticism of the department.
to say exactly what you think about someone or something, especially in a situation where other people would be more polite: · Why not call a spade a spade and say that she's incompetent, if that's what you're thinking.
to speak honestly about someone or something, especially when you are criticizing them, without thinking about their feelings: · Rollins pulled no punches in his memoir, especially when writing about the political system.
to hurt a part of your body if you hurt a part of your body, you accidentally damage it so that it feels painful or you cannot move it easily: · Nick's hurt his back, and the doctor says he will have to rest for a few weeks.· I can't go running this week - I've hurt my foot.hurt yourself: · That's a sharp knife. Be careful you don't hurt yourself.
to hurt a part of your body, especially seriously and in a way that takes a long time to get better: · Tom injured his shoulder playing tennis.injure yourself: · Many elderly people injure themselves in their own homes, for example by slipping in the bath.
to hurt a part of your body when you fall or hit it against something, causing a dark, painful mark to form on your skin: · Mom fell on the ice and bruised the side of her leg.badly bruise: · Keller badly bruised a hip, and came off early in the second half of the match.· My skin bruises quite easily.
to hurt your knee, wrist, or another joint by twisting or pulling it suddenly and awkwardly: · I sprained my knee while I was playing basketball.· You'll need strong walking boots in the mountains, if you don't want to sprain an ankle.
to break a bone in your body: · It was such bad luck - it was our first time skiing and Nicola broke her leg.
to hurt your knee or another joint, by turning it too suddenly or strongly while you are moving: · I couldn't play, having twisted my knee in the previous night's game.· The doctor said that I'd wrenched my shoulder and shouldn't drive for a while.
: pull a muscle to injure a muscle by stretching it too much, especially during hard physical activity: · I pulled a muscle trying to move the piano into the apartment.· Crawford had been ordered to take a day's rest after pulling a leg muscle.
written to injure a part of your body fairly seriously, especially in a way that means it will take a long time to get better or will never get better: · Lewis damaged his knee in training and will not appear in the game.· When carrying out the operation, doctors have to take great care not to damage the delicate nerve endings.
to injure a joint by falling on it or stretching it so that the two parts of the joint are moved out of their normal position and stay out of position: · Sam dislocated his shoulder in a riding accident.
if part of your body is bleeding , blood is coming out of it because you have been injured: · His head was bleeding, and he'd obviously been in a fight.be bleeding from: · John saw that he was bleeding from some sort of wound on his chest.be bleeding heavily/profusely (=a lot of blood is coming out): · The cut on her leg had opened again and was bleeding heavily.
to leave at the start of a journey · I have to leave early tomorrow morning to fly to Detroit.· Her plane leaves Hong Kong at 10.00.· When are you leaving to go on holiday?· When we arrived at the bus station, the bus had just left.leave for · I'm leaving for Paris on Tuesday.leave from · Coaches leave from Victoria every hour.
especially spoken to leave: · Let's go!· The trip is all planned - we're going in September.· Do you know what time the next bus goes?· I've packed all my bags, and I'm ready to go.
especially British to leave somewhere and begin a journey: · If we set off early in the morning we should reach the coast before dark.set off for: · We set off for Brighton in good spirits.
British informal to leave and begin a journey: · I think we'd better be off now - it'll take at least an hour to get to the airport.be off to: · When are you off to Canada?
to leave - used especially in official information about times when trains, planes, buses etc leave: · The bus was due to depart at any moment.depart from: · The 12.15 shuttle service to Atlanta will depart from platform 16.depart for: · The 06:33 Pullman will depart from London Euston from platform 4.· The train departs Waterloo at 09:00 hours on Saturday.
if a plane takes off , it leaves the ground at the beginning of a flight: · Children spent hours watching the planes take off and land.· This is your Captain speaking. We are due to take off in five minutes.take off from: · Planes were unable to take off from Gatwick owing to high winds.
to quickly start driving a car away from somewhere: · Eddie ran out of the house, jumped into his car, and drove off.· Someone had smashed into her car, and then just driven off.· Adrian just had time to see his father jump into the truck and drive off in a cloud of dust.
if a train pulls out , it slowly gains speed as it leaves the station at the start of a journey: · We got there just as the train was pulling out.
to leave the port at the start of a journey by sea: · Thousands of people stood waving on the quay as the Titanic set sail.(set) sail for: · In November 1928, she set sail for India and arrived in Calcutta seven weeks later.(set) sail from: · It was a bitterly cold morning when we sailed from Dover.
when an army leaves a place, for example after a battle if an army or group of soldiers retreats , it leaves an area because it is being defeated: · Lieutenant Peterson shouted the order to retreat.· In 1443, the Hungarian army advanced into Serbia, and the Turks were forced to retreat.
to leave an area, either to avoid being defeated or because the fighting has stopped: · As a result of the Paris peace negotiations, most American forces withdrew from Vietnam in 1973.
if an army or group of soldiers pulls out , it leaves a place, especially because it might be defeated: pull out of: · Troops began pulling out of the region as soon as the order was given.
to make fun of someone or something to make someone or something seem stupid by making jokes about them: · They made fun of the girls and their new outfits.· You shouldn't make fun of other people's beliefs.· Peter didn't seem to realize that they were making fun of him.
to make fun of someone or something, especially in an unkind way: · The other kids poked fun at him, saying his mother dressed him like a girl.· His plays ingeniously poked fun at the way the Communist Party corrupted language.
to make jokes about someone when you talk to them, either in an unkind way, or in a friendly way that shows you like them: · Sam's sisters used to tease him because he was overweight.· Don't get upset, Stuart, she's only teasing.tease somebody about something: · Kevin's always teasing me about my cooking.
informal to make fun of someone in a friendly way by telling something that is not true: · Did Ronnie really call or are you just pulling my leg?pull sb's leg about: · Don't worry. I was just pulling your leg about moving - I'm not going anywhere.
to repeatedly say unpleasant things to someone that show you do not respect them, in order to make them angry or upset: · She went on taunting him until he lost his temper.· When I didn't want to fight he would taunt me repeatedly. "Coward," he would say, "coward, coward, coward ...."taunt somebody about something: · He couldn't forget how they had taunted him about his appearance.
a book, film, or performance that sends up a group or person makes fun of them by copying them in a very funny way: send up somebody: · Gibson's new play brilliantly sends up the upper classes and their attitudes.send somebody up: · Half the time, he uses his act to send himself up.
to show by your unpleasant attitude or remarks that you do not have a high opinion of someone or what they do: · Instead of helping, they just sat and sneered.sneer at: · He wanted to prove something to the critics who had sneered at his paintings.
to make fun of a person, institution, belief etc, and show that you do not have a high opinion of them, sometimes in a friendly way: · Liz mocked him, saying that he was a coward.· The press mocked his attempts to appeal to young voters.· "Ooh, aren't you clever!" she mocked.· You mustn't mock -- it's not their fault they don't know much about art.
British informal to make someone look stupid, in either a friendly or unfriendly way, for example by saying something you do not mean or by copying their behaviour: · Just ignore him - he's just taking the mickey.· "You're a genius - you should go on one of those quiz shows!" "Are you taking the mickey?"take the mickey out of: · They're always taking the mickey out of each other, but they're good friends really.
informal to make fun of someone - some people consider this expression to be rude: · I didn't mean it - I was only taking the piss.take the piss out of: · The show takes the piss out of virtually everyone, from politicians to eco-warriors.
to remove something from inside something else to take something from inside a container or place: take out something: · She opened her briefcase and took out a letter.· I need to get to a cash machine and take out some money.· We'll have to take out the engine to fix the gearbox.take something out: · Roland reached inside his jacket and took his passport out.take something out of something: · She took a few coins out of her purse.
to take something from inside something. Remove is more formal than take out , and is used especially in writing: · Cut the fruit in half and remove the seeds.· He opened the torch and removed the bulb.remove from: · Someone had removed some papers from the file.
to remove something from deep inside something else, often when this is difficult: get something out: · The spare wheel was right at the back of the boot under a load of suitcases, so it took me ages to get it out.get something out of something: · It's important to get all the dirt out of the wound.get out something: · If you want to get out the old photo albums, you're going to have to dig in the bottom of that trunk.
to remove a natural substance from the ground or from a plant, or to take out someone's tooth: · 42 tons of gold were extracted at the mine in 1987.· She had to have three teeth extracted.extract something from something: · The nuts are crushed in order to extract the oil from them.· The bird uses its long beak to extract nectar from the flowers.
to remove something from the inside of something else, using a knife: cut out something: · Make sure you cut out any tough, gristly parts before you cook the meat.cut something out: · I knew I would have to cut the bullet out before the wound became infected.
to suddenly take something out from a place where it cannot be seen, for example from a pocket, bag etc: pull out something: · The man pulled out a gun and fired three shots.pull something out: · She pulled a notebook out and scribbled a few notes.
to close a door, window, gate etc to move a door, window, gate etc so that it is no longer open: · Come in and shut the door behind you.· Someone had shut the gate to stop the sheep getting out onto the road.· She heard Charlotte downstairs shutting the windows, and locking up for the night.
to shut something, especially in a careful way: · Do you mind if I close the window?· She took the necklace out of the box and closed the lid.
to shut a door quickly so that it makes a loud noise, especially because you are angry: · Jane marched out of the room slamming the door behind her.· He slammed the door so hard that the glass cracked.
to push, kick, slide etc something so that it shuts: · The woman pushed the door shut with her foot.· It started raining, so I quickly pulled the window shut.· "Sorry, we're closed,'' said the official, sliding the wooden panel shut.
to move a door so that it is almost shut: · "Tell me what's wrong,'' I said, pulling the door to.· She pushed the door to against the blinding sunlight.
to close curtains by pulling them across a window: · Let's draw the curtains. We don't want people looking in.· The curtains were closed and the room was in darkness.
to make someone stop moving · The police are stopping drivers to ask questions about the accident.· The truck was stopped by customs officers for a routine check.· A man stopped me in the street and asked if I knew where the theatre was.
to hold someone so that they cannot move forward or attack someone: · It took three men to restrain him.· Mary got up to go after them, but I put out my arm to restrain her.
to prevent someone from moving forward or into a place: · They put up huge barriers to hold back the crowd.· My father held me back, otherwise I would have rushed up onto the stage.
to surprise or frighten you, so that you stop suddenly: · Seeing the policeman there stopped me dead. I didn't know what to do.· Jim was stopped in his tracks by the sound of a rifle behind him.
to stop a car that is coming towards you by waving your arms: flag down something: · I managed to flag down a passing car and ask for help.flag something/somebody down: · The patrolman stepped out in front of the truck to flag it down.
if someone, especially a police officer pulls you over , they make you stop driving and park at the side of the road: · The police pulled me over and checked my licence.· He got pulled over on the way home and had to take a breath test.
to stop something such as a boat or plane, before it has finished its journey or achieved its purpose: · Two British ships were sent to intercept the convoy.· All three fighter planes were intercepted and destroyed.
to make something stop happening or continuing to make someone stop doing something, or make something stop happening: · The referee stopped the fight when one of the boxers was badly injured.· It is now time to stop the war and begin negotiations for peace.· Officials are planning to take court action to stop publication of the book.stop somebody doing something: · I gave my little brother some chocolate to stop him crying.
to stop something, especially so that it never starts again: · An injury like this could put an end to her dancing career.· The outbreak of war put an end to their romance.
to finally and permanently end something that has continued for a long time: bring something to an end: · A treaty was signed which finally brought the conflict to an end.bring to an end something: · There are calls for the Prime Minister to bring to an end the uncertainty about the election date.
to make something stop changing, developing, or progressing: · The government is determined to halt the trade in illegal animal furs.· All his efforts had failed to halt the increase in street crime.
to decide that a planned action or activity should be stopped after it has already started: · The union decided to call off the strike when they were offered a 10% pay rise.· The meeting was called off at the last minute.· The hunt for the missing boy had to be called off because of severe weather conditions.
to stop an activity earlier than was planned, especially because of something unexpected such as illness or bad news: · She was forced to cut short her holiday and return to the UK.· His education was cut short when his father died of a sudden illness.
to stop an action that has been started, because it would be too dangerous to continue: · The mission was aborted after news came of the capture of the city.· The plane had already started its descent when the pilot received orders to abort his landing.
to officially order that something should be stopped, when you intend to let it start again at a later time: · We have decided to suspend all production at the factory until safety checks can be carried out.· All pay increases are to be suspended until further notice.· The trial was suspended after threats were made against witnesses.
informal to stop giving money to a plan or planned business activity so that it cannot continue: · The city council has pulled the plug on the new housing development.· Over 1000 workers lost their jobs when the company pulled the plug on plans to open ten new stores.
to keep prices or wages at the same level and not increase them: · The company has announced that it intends to freeze all salaries for a year.· All government employees have had their salaries frozen at last year's levels.
when a vehicle stops moving if a vehicle or its driver stops , the vehicle stops moving: · Could you stop just here on the left?· We'd better stop at the next gas station.· A yellow car stopped outside the house.
if a car or its driver pulls up , the car comes closer to something or someone and stops: pull up at/outside/next to etc: · We pulled up at a small cafe just outside Bordeaux.· A blue van pulled up behind us.
if a car or its driver pulls in , the driver stops the car at the side of the road or in a parking space: · I rounded the corner, looking for a place to pull in.· Jeff parked in front of the house and I pulled in beside him.
if a car or its driver pulls over , the driver drives to the side of the road and stops: · A policeman was standing by the side of the road, signalling to me to pull over.· I pulled over and looked at the map.· The truck pulled over and a man got out.
especially written to gradually get slower and then stop: · The taxi came to a stop outside the hotel.· The bus slowed down and came to a halt at some traffic lights.come to a sudden/abrupt halt/stop: · As Jamie spoke, the train came to an abrupt halt, nearly throwing us all on the floor.
especially written to gradually get slower and then stop completely - use this about traffic or about a vehicle: · The train came to a standstill about a mile outside Abbeville and didn't move for 20 minutes.· Traffic in the city ground to a halt as the streets filled with angry demonstrators.
if a vehicle or its driver brakes , the driver makes it slow down or stop by using the brakes: · I saw a roadblock ahead, and braked.brake hard/sharply: · A bus came round the corner and braked sharply.
to make a car, bus etc stop very suddenly by pressing very hard on the brakes: · I slammed on the brakes, skidding to a stop.
to succeed in doing something difficult especially spoken to succeed in doing something that is difficult or that seems impossible: · Gina has her driving test today. I hope she makes it.· He went out for it, he played hard, and he made it. · Jody thinks only three teams will make it to the final. · Did Margaret make it home the other night? · Will he make it out alive?
especially spoken to succeed in doing something, especially after a lot of effort over a long period of time: · I aim to have my own company by the time I'm thirty, but sometimes I wonder if I'll ever get there.· Anna found the coursework hard, but knew she'd get there in the end.· I knew we'd get there eventually, it was just a question of when.
especially spoken to succeed in doing something, especially something difficult or something that needs a lot of effort: · We did it! We won the cup!· You did it! Congratulations!
to manage to do something difficult, when other people did not think that you could succeed: pull/bring/carry off something: · In the opening game, Italy pulled off a sensational 1-0 victory over Germany.· I think you need a really good sense of humour to carry off something like this.· We had a hard time bringing off the last conference we held here.pull/bring/carry something off: · I'd hardly cooked a proper meal for years, and I was wondering if I could still pull it off.· I doubt if we could have carried it off without your help.
informal if someone comes or turns up trumps , they succeed in doing something difficult or providing something that is needed, especially when this makes you feel pleased or grateful: · We were getting into serious difficulties, but Ron came up trumps again.· Well, I got three people interested in helping, so if they all turn up trumps, we should reach our target.
to not die in spite of an accident, illness, or war · Only 12 of the 140 passengers on the plane survived.· Doctors predicted that the baby would not survive with such severe disabilities.· My grandmother wouldn't survive another operation.· Not many of the insects survive the winter.
someone who has survived an accident, war, illness etc: · So far rescue workers have found no sign of any survivors.· Survivors of the accident were rushed to the nearest hospital.sole survivor (=the only survivor): · An eight-month-old baby girl was the sole survivor of a car crash that killed both her parents.
to continue to live and not die when you are in a very dangerous situation, for example in a war or when you have very little food: · They managed to stay alive by eating roots and berries.· We had to ignore the terrible things going on around us, and just concentrate on staying alive.
to survive and get better after having a very serious illness or injury: · I was so ill that the doctors weren't sure if I was going to pull through.· The first few days after the accident were awful, and everyone was just praying he'd pull through.
to survive after being involved in a serious accident, especially because of good luck: · The driver was killed but his passenger escaped with only a few scratches.escape injury/death etc: · The family escaped injury when a fire gutted their two-bedroom apartment.narrowly escape (=only just escape): · The prime minister narrowly escaped a terrorist bomb in 1999.
if you say that someone will live , you mean that they will survive, even though they have a very serious illness, injury etc: · One of the victims has severe burns and is not expected to live.live or die: · Our baby was in the intensive care unit, and we didn't know whether she would live or die.live to tell the tale/live to tell about it (=survive a very dangerous experience, so that you are able to tell people about it afterwards): · There were ten in the lifeboat, but only three lived to tell the tale.
informal to survive when you are in a very dangerous situation or when you have a very serious illness: · At one point I was so exhausted and weak that I didn't think I was going to make it.· I was surprised she had made it through the night.
if someone lasts a period of time, they continue to live during that period, even though they have a very serious illness or injury: · His breathing was getting worse and he was not expected to last the night.· It's amazing that she's managed to last this long, really.
to take something from the place where it is to take something from the place where it is: · Have you taken my keys? I can't find them.take something from/off/down etc: · He took a dictionary down from the shelf.· Her camera was taken from the reception desk while no one was looking.· If anyone would like to take the uneaten food home, they're welcome to do so.
to take something from a place where it cannot be seen, for example from a pocket, drawer or container: take out something: · He reached into his pocket and took out a handkerchief.· Today, I'm going to show you how to take out summer-flowering bulbs to store them for the winter.take something out: · Sally opened a pack of cigarettes, took one out and lit it.· I keep the forms in this folder here, so just take one out if you need one. take something out of something: · Take that chewing gum out of your mouth!· Take the sachet out of the water after 3 minutes.
to quickly take something from a place where it was hidden or could not be seen: pull out something: · He pulled out a gun and fired three shots.pull something out: · I saw her pull a bag out from under the seat.pull something out of something: · She pulled a pen out of her bag and began to scribble furiously.
formal to take something away from the place where it is, especially something that you do not want or something that should not be there: · Please do not remove this notice.· The new technology will make it easier for surgeons to remove abnormal growths before they cause problems. remove something from something: · Remove all the packaging from the pizza and place it in a preheated oven.· The relics were removed from the house and taken to a local museum for identification.
to take something out of something else, especially slowly or carefully - used especially in literature: · The ambassador frowned and withdrew the cigar from his mouth.· She withdrew her hand from his grasp, and turned to leave the room.
informal to take something from a place where it is difficult to get things from: fish something out: · The doctor fished his glasses out again and looked closely at Murphy's ear.fish something out from something: · The young man fished a dirty bowl out from under the bed.fish out something: · Brody fished out a pack of cigarettes and lit one.fish something out of something: · I fished it out of the trash -- it's a perfectly good tea kettle.
to not take part in something · The President was invited to appear on the program but decided not to take part.· We tried to include Reggie in the conversation, but he didn't participate.not take part/not participate in · Party leaders have said they will not take part in the election.· She said that she didn't participate in the games because her shoulder was sore.
formal to deliberately not take part in something, because you disagree with it or think it is wrong: · They were pacifists and would take no part in the war.· Jen would have no part in forcing Gwen out of her job.· I played no part in leaking the information to the press.
to decide not to take part in a competition, race, discussion etc, which you previously agreed to take part in: · Bower was leading in the polls, but he withdrew when the scandal hit the press.withdraw from: · Clare had to withdraw from the race after injuring her knee.· It will be very sad if Jordan withdraws from politics altogether.
informal to suddenly decide not to take part in something, that has already started or is about to start, especially when this causes problems: · The show was cancelled when the star unexpectedly pulled out.· By the end of the semester about half of the students had dropped out.pull/drop out of: · It's too late to pull out of the agreement now.· Most of the other Democratic candidates had already dropped out of the presidential race.
to decide not to take part in an official system, especially one that has not started yet: · Employees who do not wish to be part of the company's healthcare program can opt out if they want to.opt out of: · The treaty gave Britain the right to opt out of the single European currency system.
to not be involved in any way in something bad or illegal - use this especially when other people think that you were involved: · I'm sure that Tony had nothing to do with the robbery.· Connie had nothing to do with the break-up of my marriage.· The editor pointed out that he had nothing to do with the discredited advertising campaign.
to stop taking part in something that you were actively involved in before: · Lineker was injured and took no further part in the game.· Schmidt's lawyer said that he would take no further part in the trial.
an armchair critic, sportsman, revolutionary etc is someone who does not take part in politics, sport etc but who reads a lot about it or watches it on television, especially someone who thinks they know better than the people doing it and is ready to give them advice: · It's very easy to be an armchair critic but much harder to come up with solutions that will work.· Armchair travellers can now visit the world's most exotic countries via the Internet.· Like most armchair sportsmen, Terry is sure he understands the game better than the referees.
if you stay, sit, or wait on the sidelines when something is happening, you do not take part in it, even though you may want to or should do: · You can't just wait on the sidelines and hope things will improve.· How can we sit on the sidelines when thousands of innocent civilians are being killed.
to tell someone off · She's always telling her kids off and shouting at them.tell sb off for · Did your Dad tell you off for getting home late?tell sb off about · The manager said my work wasn't good enough. He really told me off about it.get told off · I was always getting told off for things I hadn't done when I was a kid.
also give somebody a telling-off British to tell someone off, especially a child, to make it clear that you disapprove of something they have done: · Addicts don't stop what they're doing just because someone gives them a talking-to.· I remember being late for school and the teacher giving me such a telling-off.give somebody a good talking-to/telling-off: · You should give that child a good talking-to, if you want my opinion.
spoken to talk angrily to someone for a long time, especially in a way that they think is not necessary or fair: · He was lectured by the headmaster in front of the whole school.lecture somebody on/about something: · She's always lecturing me on bad manners.· After the violence on the field, the manager lectured the team about acceptable standards of behaviour.
especially American if a parent, teacher, or other adult scolds a child, they tell them off: · I dreaded the thought of going home and being scolded by my father.scold somebody for something: · Don't scold him for doing badly at school, he's doing his best.· Our parents were strict and we were frequently scolded for our bad behaviour.
to talk severely to someone in order to criticize them for doing something which they knew was wrong: · When the extent of the pollution became known, the company was publicly rebuked by the Governor.rebuke somebody for (doing) something: · Amnesty International rebuked the British government for its treatment of the refugees.· Welfare workers were sternly rebuked by the court for ignoring the woman's plea for help.
to officially tell someone that they have done something wrong or illegal, especially by warning them that if they do it again they will be punished: · After the trial two police officers were suspended from duty; four others were reprimanded.reprimand somebody for (doing) something: · The man was released after being officially reprimanded for illegal possession of a knife.reprimand somebody severely: · The foreman reprimanded the workers severely for not following safety procedures.
British to tell someone off for doing something that you do not approve of but that is not very bad: pull sb up for: · Our teachers are always pulling us up for wearing the wrong uniform.pull sb up on: · I felt I had to pull her up on her lateness.
spoken use this to tell someone that they have done something to annoy you and that you are going to tell them off about it: · I've got a bone to pick with you - what are all these lies you've been spreading about me?
to make something tight to make something tight, either by fastening it firmly so that it cannot move, or by pulling it until it is tight: tighten a screw/bolt (=by turning it): · Tighten the screws gradually until the wheel is firmly in place.· He changed the spanner for one the correct size and tightened the nut.tighten a rope/belt/string etc: · I think the fan belt needs to be tightened.
to pull a string, rope etc hard, so that it becomes tight: · Brian wrapped some string round the parcel and pulled it tight.· She buttoned her jacket all the way up and pulled the collar tight around her neck.
to pull a piece of rope, cloth, rubber etc so that it becomes tight, making it slightly longer than it normally is: · Seth stretched the phone cord around the corner so that he could speak in private.stretch something over/between etc something: · He stretched a large tarpaulin over the vehicle, tying it down at the corners.
to trick someone and make them believe something that is not true to make someone believe something that is not true, in order to get something from them or make them do something: · I realized then that I had been tricked, but it was too late.· I'm not trying to trick you - just answer the question.trick somebody into doing something: · The old man's sons had tricked him into signing the papers.trick somebody out of something (=take something from someone by tricking them): · A man posing as an insurance agent tricked her out of thousands of dollars.
informal to trick someone: · He was trying to con me, and I knew it.con somebody into doing something: · They conned the school district into buying the property.con somebody out of something (=take something from someone by tricking them): · She conned me out of $50.
especially written to make someone who trusts you believe something that is not true because it is useful for you if they believe it: · This was a deliberate attempt to deceive the public.· Many children's lies are unplanned and not actually designed to deceive.· All through the summer Paula was deceiving her husband while she was seeing another man.deceive somebody into doing something: · Thousands of home buyers were deceived into buying homes at inflated prices.deceive yourself: · If you think that everyone is happy with the plan, you're deceiving yourself.
to make someone believe something that is not true by using a clever but simple trick: · His hairpiece doesn't fool anyone.fool somebody into doing something: · They managed to fool the police into thinking they had left the country.have somebody fooled: · The brothers' act had us all fooled.you can't fool me spoken: · You can't fool me - I know he's already given you the money.fool yourself: · Maybe I was just fooling myself, but I really thought he liked me.
to make people believe something that is not true, by deliberately not giving them all the facts, or by saying something that is only partly true: · The report is a deliberate and obvious attempt to mislead.· They were accused of misleading customers about the nutritional value of their product.mislead somebody into doing something: · Agents are accused of misleading clients into signing up for savings plans that were actually insurance policies.
to trick someone into doing something that they will be punished for or embarrassed by: · He said, following his arrest last fall, that the FBI had set him up.· Terry and Donald think I set them up, but it's all a big misunderstanding.
informal to deceive someone, especially someone who is cleverer than you are, or someone who is not easily deceived: · That's the last time he puts one over on me!· Lawyers claim that the tobacco industry, by failing to tell everything it knew about smoking, was putting one over on its customers.
informal to deceive someone, usually by hiding some facts or information: · Don't try and pull the wool over my eyes - I can tell you've been smoking.· The politicians are just trying to pull the wool over voters' eyes again.
to make someone believe you and trust you, especially by making them think you are romantically interested in them: · I can't tell if he really cares about me or if he's just leading me on?· I didn't mean to lead Cassie on, but I didn't want to hurt her feelings either.
informal to deceive someone, especially so that you can get their money: · I'd already given him £50 when I realized he was taking me for a ride.· After the deal was signed, I felt like I'd been taken for a ride.
to cheat someone you pretended to be helping or working with, especially by helping their enemies: · I'm warning you - if you double-cross me, I'll kill you.· Harry and Danny double-crossed the gang and escaped with all the money.
informal to trick or deceive someone, especially so that they become involved in someone else's dishonest activity without realizing it: · The spies duped government and military officials alike.dupe somebody into doing something: · The perpetrators of the hoax managed to dupe respectable journalists into printing their story.
to try as hard as you can · Come on, try as hard as you can!· I tried as hard as I could, but I still couldn't get everything into one suitcase.try as hard as you can to do something · She tried as hard as she could to look interested.
to try as hard as you can, even when the situation is difficult and you are not sure if you will succeed: · I don't know if I'll manage to get everything finished by Friday, but I'll certainly do my best.do/try your best to do something: · Harry did his best to sound calm, but it was obvious that he was really annoyed.· She tried her best not to laugh.
to try as hard as you can to do something, even though it is difficult or you do not have enough time, money etc to do it really well: · It's a very tough exam but just do the best you can.· More medical supplies will be arriving next week -- until then, doctors and nurses must do the best they can.do the best you can to do something: · I did the best I could to make him change his mind, but he refused.
informal to do everything possible to make an event, celebration, competition etc successful: · They gave me a great leaving party - they really pulled out all the stops.· If we pull out all the stops we should still be able to meet our deadline.
informal to try to do something as well as you can, even though you do not have all the necessary skills or equipment: · I'm not promising I'll succeed, but I'll give it my best shot.
to try as much as you possibly can, and for as long as possible, to achieve something very difficult: · We have done our utmost. There is no more we could possibly do.do your utmost to do something: · The Secretary of State assured reporters that the Administration was doing its utmost to avoid war.
to use every possible method to try to do something: · I'm trying to help -- I'm doing everything I possibly can.· I did everything I could to raise money, including selling my house.· Her mother did all she could to encourage Tracy to study medicine.
to use all your energy and determination to achieve something that is personally very important to you: · She gave her all in the last race, but it wasn't quite good enough to win.
if you do something as best you can , especially something difficult or unpleasant, you try as hard as you can to do it because you cannot change the situation: · I cleaned the car up as best I could, but it still looked a mess.· We'll have to manage as best we can without you.
if you do something to the best of your ability , you do it as well as you can, even if you are not sure that you are doing it very well: · I have always done my work to the best of my ability.· All the children competed and performed to the best of their ability.
when people unite if the people in a group pull together , they all work together to deal with a difficult situation: · In Japan in the 50s and 60s, the government, bankers and workers all pulled together and brought about what we now call "the economic miracle'.pull together to do something: · Parents, teachers, and students should all pull together to tackle the school's drugs problem.
if a group of people stand together , they unite and deal with a difficult or dangerous situation as a group: · We must all stand together on this one. I don't want anybody quitting or saying they don't want to get involved.· Somehow they stood together and kept the business going in spite of all that was going on.
informal if two or more people stick together , they continue to support each other even when there are problems or difficulties: · It is important for families to stick together.· We should be able to get out of this mess, provided we stick together.
if people who belong to a group or organization close ranks , they join together to protect each other, especially when the group or its members are being criticized or attacked: · When she applied for promotion, the male managers all closed ranks and made sure she didn't get it.· President Nixon's staff were instructed to close ranks in response to the Watergate arrests.
if a group of people are united, they support each other or are working together in a difficult situation: · Organisers want the conference to show that the party is united as never before.be united in: · The Council is united in its resolve to maintain and develop standards of professional management.
what you say to tell someone to work harder also put your back into it British, /put some muscle into it American use this to tell someone to work harder at what they are doing: · You'll have to put your back into it -- I want to see all these boxes moved by tonight.· Come on you guys, let's see you put some muscle into it!
British informal say this to tell someone to do something faster or work harder: · You could easily finish your essay if you just sit down and pull your finger out!
WORD SETSabet, verbaccusation, nounaccuse, verbaffray, nounarson, nounassault, nounassault and battery, nounbackhander, nounbattery, nounbigamy, nounblack market, nounblack marketeer, nounbreak-in, nounbreaking and entering, nouncaper, nouncapital, adjectivecarjacking, nouncat burglar, nouncontract, nouncosh, nouncounterfeit, adjectivecounterfeit, verbcover, nouncrack, verbcriminal, adjectivecriminal, nouncriminal law, nouncriminal record, nouncriminology, nouncrook, nounculpable, adjectiveculprit, noundefamation, noundefraud, verbdelinquency, noundelinquent, adjectivedelinquent, noundesperado, noundisorderly, adjectivedrug baron, noundrug runner, nounDUI, nounembezzle, verbexpropriate, verbextort, verbeyewitness, nounfelon, nounfelony, nounfence, nounfiddle, nounfiddle, verbfiddler, nounfilch, verbfinger, verbfire-raising, nounfirst offender, nounflash, verbflasher, nounforge, verbforger, nounforgery, nounfoul play, nounframe, verbframe-up, nounfratricide, nounfraud, nounfreebooter, noungang, noungang-bang, noungang rape, noungangster, nounGBH, noungenocide, noungetaway, noungodfather, noungrand larceny, noungrass, noungrievous bodily harm, nounheist, nounhijack, verbhijack, nounhijacking, nounhit, nounhit-and-run, adjectivehit man, nounincriminate, verbindecent assault, nounindecent exposure, nouninfanticide, nounjob, nounjoyriding, nounjuvenile delinquent, nounkidnap, verblarceny, nounlibel, nounlibel, verblibellous, adjectivelow life, nounmafioso, nounmalpractice, nounmanslaughter, nounmassacre, nounmassacre, verbmatricide, nounmisappropriate, verbmisconduct, nounmisdeed, nounmisdemeanour, nounmobster, nounmoll, nounmug, verbmugshot, nounmurder, nounmurder, verbmurderer, nounmurderess, nounmuscleman, nounnark, nounnefarious, adjectiveneighbourhood watch, nounnick, verbno-go area, nounoffence, nounoffend, verboffender, nounold lag, nounorganized crime, nounoutlaw, nounparricide, nounpatricide, nounpetty larceny, nounPhotofit, nounpiracy, nounplant, verbpoach, verbpoacher, nounpossession, nounprivateer, nounprotection, nounprowl, verbprowler, nounpublic nuisance, nounpull, verbpunk, nounpurloin, verbraid, nounram-raiding, nounrape, verbrape, nounrapist, nounravish, verbreceiver, nounreceiving, nounrecidivist, nounregicide, nounring, nounringleader, nounriotous, adjectiverob, verbrobber, nounrobbery, nounroll, verbrustler, nounscheme, nounscheme, verbshady, adjectiveshoplift, verbshoplifting, nounslander, nounsmuggle, verbsnout, nounspeeding, nounstabbing, nounstalking, nounstatutory offence, nounstatutory rape, nounsteal, verbstoolpigeon, nounsupergrass, nounsuspect, nounswag, nountheft, nounthief, nounthievish, adjectivetorch, verbtraffic, nountrafficker, nountriad, noununder-the-counter, adjectiveunderworld, nounundesirable, nounvagrancy, nounvandal, nounvandalism, nounvandalize, verbvice, nounvigilante, nounvillainy, nounviolate, verbviolation, nounwanted, adjective
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
She pulled open the door and hurried inside. He was trying to pull a fast one (=deceive you) when he told you he’d paid. Don’t you ever pull a stunt like that again! The bus pulled to a halt.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES A couple of men started fighting and we had to pull them apart. She broke free from her attacker. the gravitational pull of the Moon He pulled a hamstring in training. You need something to pull in the punters (=attract them). She tied the rope around the post and pulled it tight. He took aim and squeezed the trigger.
She pulled open the door and hurried inside. (=take one out, ready to use it)
He was trying to pull a fast one (=deceive you) when he told you he’d paid. Don’t you ever pull a stunt like that again! The bus pulled to a halt. A couple of men started fighting and we had to pull them apart.· All the medieval buildings were torn down.
(=moves away from the side of the road)· A car suddenly pulled out in front of me.
(=stops)· Why’s that police car pulling up here?
(=stops on the side of a road)
(=move a chair nearer someone or something)· Pull up a chair and look at these pictures.
(=smoke a cigarette with deep breaths)· Ed was leaning out of the window and dragging on a cigarette.
(=make a lot of people come to something)· Low prices always pull in the crowds.
(=close them)· The room was dark because the curtains were drawn.
(=open them)· Would you mind opening the curtains?
(=decide not to make a deal after discussing one)· Twenty-five jobs were lost after their partner pulled out of the deal.
(=stop a plane going down)· He tried to pull out of the steep dive before hitting the ground.
(=open it)· He pulled open drawers until he found the papers.
(=to change your expression to make people laugh or to show you are angry, disappointed etc)· Here’s a funny photo of Joe pulling a face.
She broke free from her attacker.· Eleanor put on her gloves and stood up.
the gravitational pull of the Moon He pulled a hamstring in training. (=injure it)· He pulled a muscle in his calf.
· She pulled herself into a sitting position.
You need something to pull in the punters (=attract them).· He pulled the trapdoor shut over his head.
She tied the rope around the post and pulled it tight.· The train pulled into Euston station and I got off.
He took aim and squeezed the trigger.· He pulled himself upright on the sofa.
(=win when it is difficult)· Martin pulled off a surprise victory in the semi-final.
(=win when it is difficult to win)· The side has pulled off two excellent wins in the past couple of weeks.
· The driver was pulled from the wreckage of his car.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· But I fear we are now being pulled apart - by commercial pressures and by the changes forced upon the broadcasting environment.· He said something, and they pulled apart and both started talking at once.· The kill is pulled apart in a way most people would find unedifying, despite assurances.· He succeeded in pulling apart my clenched arms and started on my legs.· Then comes anaphase I: the quartet of chromatids are pulled apart so as to form two sets of paired chromatids.· Does the crust separate or pull apart from itself just under the dome?· Concrete is extremely strong when compressed but has no strength at all when pulled apart.
· A minute later, Dougal tried to pull away.· Leg meat should remain moist and just pull away from the bone.· Eventually she pulled away a little, mopping her cheeks with her wrist.· A letter sweater pulling away from blistered shoulders.· I pull away to do seal impressions, rolling over and over.· I saw his carriage, a fine two-horse brougham, pull away as I arrived for my visit.· She stiffened, trying to pull away.· My last look at them was from the back of a truck as I pulled away.
· He shuddered, his hand going to the bone handle of his dagger though he dare not pull back.· Disconnection is equally easy, requiring just the grey collar to be pulled back.· Then I felt him pull back, almost withdrawing, and he held himself there.· Then, just as he responds, pull back out of range, deflecting his technique and countering.· She seemed to shiver when they pulled back to look at each other, faces flushed with emotion.· All units are to pull back.· He was rather shy, and pulled back.
· The original bricks and mortar might be pulled down but Leatherslade Farm will remain for ever at the centre of the legend.· It is even more disturbing that job market trends in the mid-1990s pulled down new groups of workers.· He pulled down the wires that had let Jekub taste the electricity.· The wrinkles around his mouth pulled down sternly as he talked about the upcoming missions.· Other high-rise blocks are still being pulled down.· Shops closed in mourning and even the post office pulled down its shutters.· Here's a pair of jeans, pulled down to reveal a shaven male crotch.· The pulling down of the right sheath, the ripping sound always convinced her it hurt.
· Charlotte walked slowly on to the platform and waited for her train to pull in.· A secondary offering earlier this year pulled in about $ 26 million at $ 19. 25 per share.· The 2x2 welt is useful if you want a rib which pulls in more tightly than the 2x1 welt.· A train pulls in and the doors open.· Even as recognition flashed into his mind, Ockleton pulled in by the hedge and stopped the car.· I rounded the curve, looking for a place to pull in.· Then Sir Alfred pulled in in his Bentley and promised me a free hand to design a car that worked.· Secret Service agents estimate that the system pulled in about 40, 000 codes.
· Skill Oxton just failed to pull off victory at Hightown on a rain affected wicket.· Straightening up after bending over to pull off her shoes was difficult.· Langley pulled off a major surprise by beating title-chasing Gretna 2-1 away from home, despite having a man sent off.· In one of the passes they pulled off the paved highway and parked out of sight of it, among limestone boulders.· Super Channel wanted to run it but were told by the I.T.C. they'd be pulled off the air if they did.· I think the message of this election is that the pro-family movement pulled off what it has never achieved in its history.· A professional golfer tries to pull off a confidence trick against his own body.· Both of those editions were pulled off the racks by supermarket chains that had received complaints from customers.
· Sofas and other furniture have been overturned, drawers pulled out, windows broken.· When it happened, when she was pulled out like this, she felt sick, giddy and unbalanced.· He pulled out all their chairs, handed them each an opened menu, then bowed and backed away.· Ismail Sahputra, spokesman for the Free Aceh Movement, said as many as 30,000 soldiers would be pulled out.· Then came the sudden peso devaluation that December, and Jimenez pulled out $ 70 million more.· Mesh was in talks to buy the troubled company but pulled out at the last minute.· He reached into a backpack and pulled out a small rug and put it out in front of me.
· Then a shin guard is pulled over the whole thing.· When Jodzis did not pull over, officers used a car as a roadblock on a narrow street.· Fifteen miles south of Garberville my eyes began to close and I pulled over and slept for half an hour.· Alan Anderson pulled over to brace himself for the big-city traffic ahead.· A side road appeared, a soft and dusty grey-white in the blackness, and they pulled over.· Intrigued, she followed the car until the driver noticed she was being followed and pulled over.· I pulled over to the emergency lane, barely able to see the other cars on the road.· He put a tentative arm up; instantly one pulled over, in a rolling wave of black slush.
· The gate swung open and the Lada pulled through.· Santamour wondered if they might pull through.· Fortunately, though, we had a fighting spirit which helped us pull through.· How else could he have pulled through, against such odds?· Although his situation was critical - and, for a man of his age almost hopeless he pulled through.· My gut feeling is that one way or another Congress will pull through.· He pulled through, but then his kidneys failed and he died.· Peggy and Jamie wait anxiously by Phil's bedside and it's soon clear that he's going to pull through.
· Double sets of wheels pull together like centipede rolling stock.· But for those few in the know, it is easy to pull together these facts into an interesting whole.· A useful activity is to pull together the governors of several neighbouring schools for training and updating on topical issues.· Radical restructuring could work only if Sam had people on his side, pulling together instead of pulling the company apart.· A nation that might disagree with its leaders at times, but will pull together for its nation's sake.· But I get the feeling we are beginning to work against each other instead of pulling together.· Robust white zips bite tightly pulling together taut panels of see-through plastic.· Work-inhibited children have the best chance to grow out of their insufficiency when parents and teachers pull together in a positive direction.
· Peter pulled up, but to his horror the glider chose to pull up as its method of collision avoidance.· I pulled up higher than the rest of the flight and made small, quick turns left and right.· The woman would pull up the sheet to her neck.· Others chimed in, saying those who have it made are pulling up the ladder on those less fortunate.· He now pulled up a chair and, turning it about, sat on it, his elbows resting on the back.· He pulls up a chair as she starts another game.· He pulled up, climbed out, and removed the plastic cone that had kept the space free.· The 1P signaled me to pull up the collective.
NOUN· Outside, a car had just pulled into the driveway.· I heard a car pull up in front of the apartment and heard the door slam shut.· Back at work the next day, the cars may pull up to docking stations and pump electricity into offices or factories.· Nine-stone Deirdre, 39, halted the driverless car by pulling on the door handle.· The car pulled up and one of the policemen called to Alvin to come over.· I heard a bunch of cars pulling up and looked out the window.
· He pulled back her chair and Evelyn sat down, her shoulder touching his arm for a second.· I pulled my chair close and put my arm around her shoulder.· I pulled a chair away from the table.· Anyway, I pull up a chair by the bed and say hello.· She pulled a wooden chair across in front of him and sat sideways on it, leaning on the back, looking at him.· I long to pull out a chair and tell her that she can rest as long as she likes.· Nevertheless, he pulled out a chair for her.· Henry pulled a chair out for me and then poured me some coffee while I looked around.
· Athelstan pulled the curtain back and wrinkled his nose at the smell.· When you come right down to it, I neither pulled the curtain nor turned off the light.· He pulled back a curtain revealing a brick wall close outside the window.· Squirt pulled back the curtain and went out.· The effort of pulling back the curtain brought a renewed stab of pain.· At the top she would lead him into a booth and pull the curtain shut behind him.· He pulled back one curtain and looked at his watch.
· His hand was warm; he pulled her face to his face with his warm hand.· He told me that the oxygen mask had pulled away from my face some, and that I was probably just blacking out.· She pulled a face at the speaker.· I wear sweats and my hair is pulled from my face with a rubber band.· At the end, she pulls her face into a lion.· Then she pulled a rueful face.· She gasped and looked over her shoulder, pulling her face together.· He would never ask her why she was pulling faces, in case it encouraged her to pull worse ones.
· But he ducks, wrenches at my fingers, and pulls his gun hand free.· Then, slowly pulling my own gun away from his head, I continued walking until I was directly opposite him.· She said that, as the officer felt threatened, he pulled his gun and fired off a warning shot.· He pulled out a huge gun, snugged inside a light tan shoulder holster.· It's not every day a young woman pulls a gun on a burglar.· Confronting two young men outside a Vista apartment building, 18-year-old Lane pulled a gun.· We featured dramatic pictures of two of the masked boys pulling a replica gun on our front and centre pages.· Many horses died of starvation, and most of those that survived grew too weak for use in pulling the lightest guns.
· Her blonde hair was pulled back into a smooth chignon and tied with a yellow silk bow.· Tom kept fooling with my hair, pulling out one pin after another.· Her long black hair was pulled back in a pony-tail.· Next, her long red hair was pulled so hard she felt as if it was going to come out by the roots.· Her hair was pulled back from her face and tied in a bun.
· Charles Greenwich London Are you pulling my leg?· Foster pulled his legs back from the fire.· Cross the ankles, then try to pull the legs apart, using the strength from the legs to work against themselves.· Standing at the kitchen counter, whining baby pulling on my legs.· Then pull each leg away in opposite directions as far as it will go.· Sure, but-you think he was pulling my leg?· Turn away, swing the arms and club and then pull the body and legs through.· Then Elmer gathers up the reins, leans back, and pulls his legs back, toes down in the stirrups.
· Then Tony pulled the lever and the wheel began to slow down.· They are let, loose by a man in a Plexiglas bubble controlling every-thing by pulling levers.· She pulled a lever at the base of the cage.· The blacks went in, pulled the lever, came out, and got their chickens.· Amin pulled one of the levers and a noise came from inside.· Complete the lace message - pull the selected lever and move the lace carriage to the right.· Card No. 3 has a new instruction: you will pull the selector lever on occasions and no needles will be selected.· Angalo pulled one of the levers back a bit.
· It tends to go on strike by pulling a muscle or twisting a joint.· These help reduce the risk of pulled muscles.· Naked, Julia stretched under the sheet, stretched so hard she pulled her stomach muscles to their full length.· It came 11 days ago, when Ramon Martinez pulled a groin muscle and had to leave a game in Chicago.· I was still at the crease, but having pulled a muscle in my leg I was batting with a runner.· Washington pulled the muscle while covering Galloway in the third quarter.· On the Thursday Luis Mendoza pulled a groin muscle, so Luke had to take his place.· Slowly and smoothly pull your abdominal muscles in tight, keeping your chest and thighs in contact with the floor.
· The banks can pull the plug.· Newt Gingrich pulled the plug on ethics reform.· Practically, the banks are not wishing to pull the plug.· Then, on March 28, 1980, with no warning to the workers, Harvester pulled the plug.· Mathie was looking for work after he decided to pull the plug on the 20-year-old classic emporium.· They studied referees' reports and may recommend pulling the plug again after the final at Wembley on March 27.· The whirlpool appears reliably whenever we pull the plug.
· Nizan generally spoke his mind and refused to pull his punches.· It also ended speculation that Cuomo might pull his punches in criticizing Clinton on the welfare issue.· From the pulpit Rev Paul Andrianatos pulls no punches.· Greenberg's judgment pulls no punches.· That is why the transport white paper pulled its punches and proposed more road-building.· They never pull any punches the way happiness does.· The backdrop of 1950s Harlem is violent and sinister and the direction pulls few punches.
· So the Government helped out by pulling the rug from under savers.· He reached into a backpack and pulled out a small rug and put it out in front of me.· It rather pulls the rug from under all those James Bond films.· Congressional Republicans are tempted to pull the rug out from under Bill Clinton wherever possible.· It snuggles up to something familiar then pulls the rug out and dares you to keep your balance.
· He pulled into the station car park, slammed on the brakes, and made no effort to get out of the van.· I pulled into a gas station this morning.· Some one uncoupled that car at Cartier and rigged some way of pulling it out of the station into the darkness before releasing it.· Forty-five minutes later, the Aries-1B lunar carrier pulled away from the Station.· It was like the noise made by a steam locomotive pulling out from a station.· Back at work the next day, the cars may pull up to docking stations and pump electricity into offices or factories.· Fifteen minutes later the locomotive will pull out of the station hauling an express for London.
· But if he was the puppet, who was pulling the strings and to what dance?· He pulled strings to get the two of them into a university.· Offshore a small tug belched black smoke as she struggled to pull a string of barges.· This, of course, leaves Karadzic amply able to pull strings from backstage.· Mrs Naulls was in Sunningdale because her son Stanley was a Hilderbridge councillor and had pulled strings.· She, who had always pulled the strings, to have found herself in this position.
· Charlotte walked slowly on to the platform and waited for her train to pull in.· The train pulled out and I never saw the town again.· The platform is brightly lit and filled with people waiting for the train to pull in.· As I burst on to the empty platform, the train starts to pull away.· When the train pulled into Los Angeles, black passengers could sit anywhere they wanted.· He was so near, he could see the trains pulling in and out.
· A professional golfer tries to pull off a confidence trick against his own body.· And the rooms pull a few surrealistic tricks with their architecture.· Supposing Gesner pulled a trick, or she fell over.· If he pulls that trick, the finals are within his and the Lakers' reach.· Old Rudolf being smart enough to pull a trick like that!· Then, as the United States Army neared, the well-mobilized army of Young pulled a trick.· The veterans can pull off a few tricks, too.
· Without adequate built-in safeguards, there will be other Susan Allens who will pull the trigger before they cry for help.· He checked that the breech was empty of bullets, then pumped the rifle up and pulled the trigger.· But never mind, though their blue-veined old hands might be trembling their fingers could still pull a trigger.· Jackson is convinced Ray pulled the trigger.· He had tried several times at a local shooting range but he couldn't bring himself to pull the trigger.· She put the barrel of a pistol in her mouth and pulled the trigger.· He pulled the trigger but the chamber was empty.· Now we need to pull the trigger.
· You can not pull the wool over Hooper's eyes.· But it's not easy to pull the wool over our eyes.· He found out we had been pulling the wool over his eyes for quite some time.· And to think she'd pulled the wool over Miss Phoebe's eyes!· Then put the wool around the needle and pull the wool through both of the stitches.· You can't pull the wool over my eyes like that.· There are people who can pull the wool over peoples' eyes.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► pull something together► pull the other one (it’s got bells on)► pull somebody’s licence► pull a punch► pull something ↔ apart► pull somebody ↔ apart► pull something ↔ apart► pull somebody/something ↔ apart► pull something ↔ back► pull something ↔ down► pull down something► pull somebody down► pull somebody/something ↔ in► pull in something► pull somebody ↔ in► pull something ↔ offPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► pull/haul yourself up by your bootstraps► pull up the drawbridge► be drawn/pulled/picked out of the/a hat► not pull any/your punches► pull the rug (out) from under somebody/somebody’s feet
1move something towards you [intransitive, transitive] to use your hands to make something or someone move towards you or in the direction that your hands are moving OPP push: - Samuels pulled strings to get her daughter a job in Mitchell's office.
- Elfed could and did pull strings on the local Co-operative committee.
- Gooch has developed as a captain, too, pulling strings whereas before he might have retreated.
- He pulled strings to get the two of them into a university.
- Mrs Naulls was in Sunningdale because her son Stanley was a Hilderbridge councillor and had pulled strings.
- This, of course, leaves Karadzic amply able to pull strings from backstage.
- Pull yourself together - you don't want him to see you crying like that.
- Pull yourself together. It's ridiculous to get upset about such a silly little thing.
- But then she pulled herself together.
- Head in her hands, she tried to pull herself together.
- In March, 1939 I pulled myself together sufficiently.
- It's about time Joe pulled himself together.
- It took them seconds to pull themselves together and reorganize themselves.
- This was another occasion on which, as Margie put it, Margarett pulled herself together.
- Yet, again and again, now as before, the people have pulled themselves together and gotten on with life.
- Anyway, I pull up a chair by the bed and say hello.
- He pulls up a chair as she starts another game.
- He now pulled up a chair and, turning it about, sat on it, his elbows resting on the back.
- Rose, Victorine, Thérèse and Léonie pulled up chairs to the kitchen table and set to.
- She pulls up a stool and sits down next to us, watching intently, still unable to stifle her laughter.
- I felt I had to pull her up on her lateness.
- Our teachers are always pulling us up for wearing the wrong uniform.
- Who is really pulling the strings at the White House?
- But if he was the puppet, who was pulling the strings and to what dance?
- However, I was going to try to pull the right strings.
- In his own way, he knew how to pull her strings.
- She, who had always pulled the strings, to have found herself in this position.
- So, when he died, the puppets had no-one to pull their strings anymore.
- Swindon's John Reynolds the man who pulled the strings for Andre Agassi.
- The scientists pulling his strings are erratic.
- Did Ronnie really call or are you just pulling my leg?
- Don't worry. I was just pulling you leg about moving - I'm not going anywhere.
- I think he was just pulling your leg.
- Could you pull the blinds, please?
- I dragged her over to the side of the stage and began pulling the curtains.
- It was getting dark so he pulled the curtains and put on the overhead light.
- Marie pulls the curtains back and steps out.
- She waited until the door was closed and then crossed to the window of her suite, pulling the curtains aside.
- What we do is, pull the curtains shut and switch on the fire.
- When we got to the room she went to pull the curtains.
- Getting the kids to do their homework was like pulling teeth.
- I could not pull down a menu.
- The pull down menus make the game easy to play and the smooth animation help keep the interest of younger players.
- The program has a pull down menu interface for ease of use.
- The program uses pull down menus and is easy to follow.
- Behind Duvall, Jimmy could see that Barbara was pulling herself to her feet.
- Granny pulled herself to her feet and tottered over to the bench, where Hodgesaargh had left his jar of flame.
- On March 4 she caught hold of the end of her buggy and twice pulled herself to her feet.
- Weary now that the excitement of the film was no longer sweeping her along, she pulled herself to her feet.
- Whitlock pulled himself to his feet and winced as a sharp pain shot through his left leg.
- Both of those editions were pulled off the racks by supermarket chains that had received complaints from customers.
- I pulled off the road in the Lamar Valley at the trail to Crystal Bench and parked in mud.
- Morland bosses say they've pulled off the escape of the decade Male speaker Even our staff backed us up.
- Skill Oxton just failed to pull off victory at Hightown on a rain affected wicket.
- We pulled off the sheets and untied the prisoner from the post.
- Yet in February 1990 he pulled off one of cricket's all-time miracles.
- Jahsaxa's pals had virtually pulled hir to bits.
- You could easily finish your essay if you just sit down and pull your finger out!
- So, come on shoe companies, pull your finger out, deliver the goods you advertise.
- Anyone else would be tearing his hair out, confronted by a pack of jabbering foreigners, but does Feargal?
- I was pulling my hair out.
- It pulls at the heartstrings of every agent out there to see a young lady or anyone jeopardized by these conditions.
- That night the little creature did not stop crying and its pitiful little squeak tore at Aggie's heartstrings.
- However, it now plans to draw in its horns in anticipation of declining demand for farm machinery by cutting back production.
- And having got under them, he can't half tear them to pieces.
- Brandon Thomas opted to unveil his Aunt away from London fearful that the capital's theatre critics would tear it to pieces.
- He was thrown from his chariot and his horses tore him to pieces and devoured him.
- I had been given the power to obliterate, to steal a body from its grave and tear it to pieces.
- If Hyde returns while I am writing this confession, he will tear it to pieces to annoy me.
- They will tear you to pieces.
- We are lost, for they will surely tear us to pieces with their sharp claws.
- But the firm pulled the plug on the scheme last week, leaving McAlpine fuming.
- George Bush pulled the plug out here fairly early.
- Mir guys, pull the plug.
- Practically, the banks are not wishing to pull the plug.
- The banks can pull the plug.
- Then, on March 28, 1980, with no warning to the workers, Harvester pulled the plug.
- They studied referees' reports and may recommend pulling the plug again after the final at Wembley on March 27.
- When the gap gets to two seconds or less, I pull the plug.
- She never acted like an authority figure or pulled rank on me.
- He pulled rank and went to bed at half past eleven, leaving me on for the late-night drinks.
- I do not enjoy pulling rank, but I do not tolerate unmanly gossip and back-biting.
- In the end, Naughtie pulled rank, and took on the task himself.
- Vi had the situation under control but the chief could, and probably would, pull rank.
- A moment later, realising she was teetering on the brink of self-pity, she brought herself up short.
- A moment later, though, and she was bringing herself up short.
- But Blue brings himself up short, realizing that they have nothing really to do with Black.
- However, never bring a preclear up short on this material.
- She has a red face and a manner that pulls people up short.
- This brings us up short at the outset of our study.
- Maybe we needed to pull our socks up and we are trying to do just that.
- With 16 games to go Oxford have still got time to pull their socks up.
- You're not exactly a young lad any more so you've got to pull your socks up.
- Our family pulled up stakes every few years when Dad was in the Army.
- Moreover, when a business pulls up stakes or downsizes, an entire program can wither overnight.
- So, he pulled up stakes and moved to Allen County to oversee a farm.
- Sometimes, staying put is a greater act of courage than pulling up stakes and starting anew.
- Fred's pulling out all the stops for his daughter's wedding.
- If we pull out all the stops we should still be able to meet our deadline.
- They gave me a great leaving party - they really pulled out all the stops.
- CafÄ Pinot is pulling out all the stops with its four-course aphrodisiac menu.
- Judith Milner, a Healthcare consultant from Leeds pulls out all the stops when it comes to selling the range of services.
- Lott pulled out all the stops.
- Miss Pickering's pulled out all the stops this time.
- Soap bosses pulled out all the stops so football fever could infect Albert Square.
- There were occasions when Bloomsbury House pulled out all the stops on behalf of children who were clearly gifted - usually in the arts.
- We pulled out all the stops and gave the company a response in record time.
- He says he loves his kids, but when he pulls a stunt like this it makes me wonder.
- If you don't start pulling your weight around here, you're fired.
- All members were expected to pull their weight.
- Be firm, and tell him that he must either pull his weight or leave.
- For the average business, pulses and linseed didn't pull their weight.
- He didn't pull his weight, but knew how to keep it from the consultants.
- He just didn't pull his weight domestically.
- Some members of this class haven't been pulling their weight.
- The superiors counted on the new managers to pull their weight in contributing to the superiors' agendas.
- You subs are not pulling your weight.
- Don't try and pull the wool over my eyes - I can tell you've been smoking.
- The politicians are just trying to pull the wool over voters' eyes again.
- But it's not easy to pull the wool over our eyes.
- He found out we had been pulling the wool over his eyes for quite some time.
- The only conclusion a consumer can reach is that Microsoft managed to pull the wool over the eyes of millions of users.
- There are people who can pull the wool over peoples' eyes.
- You can't pull the wool over my eyes like that.
- You can not pull the wool over Hooper's eyes.
Mom! Davey’s pulling my hair!pull somebody/something into/away from/over etc something He pulled her down into her seat.pull something open/shut She pulled open the door and hurried inside.2remove [transitive] to use force to take something from the place where it is fixed or held: She has to have two teeth pulled.pull something out/off/away etc Vicky had pulled the arm off her doll.3make something follow you [transitive] to be attached to something or hold something and make it move behind you in the direction you are going: a tractor pulling a trailer4take something out [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to take something out of a bag, pocket etc with your hand: He pulled out his wallet and said ‘let me pay’. Ben pulled a pen from his pocket.pull a gun/knife (on somebody) (=take one out, ready to use it)5clothing [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to put on or take off a piece of clothing, usually quicklypull on/off/up/down etc He pulled off his damp shirt.6move your body a)[intransitive, transitive always + adverb/preposition] to move your body or part of your body away from someone or somethingpull something away/free She tried to pull her hand free, but it was held fast.pull something out of/from something She struggled fiercely, trying to pull her arm out of his grasp.pull away/back She pulled away from him. b)pull yourself up/to your feet etc to hold onto something and use your strength to move your body towards it: Benny pulled himself up from the floor with difficulty.7muscle [transitive] to injure one of your muscles by stretching it too much during physical activity SYN strain: Paul pulled a muscle trying to lift the freezer.► see thesaurus at hurt8pull strings to secretly use your influence with important people in order to get what you want or to help someone else: Francis pulled strings to get him out of trouble.9pull the/somebody’s strings to control something or someone, especially when you are not the person who is supposed to be controlling them: It was widely believed that Montagu was secretly pulling the strings behind the prime minister.10trick/crime [transitive] informal to succeed in doing something illegal or dishonest or in playing a trick on someone: The gang have pulled another bank robbery. He was trying to pull a fast one (=deceive you) when he told you he’d paid.pull a stunt/trick/joke Don’t you ever pull a stunt like that again!11pull somebody’s leg to tell someone something that is not true, as a joke: I haven’t won, have I? You’re pulling my leg.12pull the other one (it’s got bells on) British English spoken used to tell someone that you think they are joking or not telling the truth: Your dad’s a racing driver? Pull the other one!13switch [transitive] to move a control such as a switch, lever, or trigger towards you to make a piece of equipment work: She raised the gun, and pulled the trigger.14pull the curtains/blinds to open or close curtains or blinds: It was already getting dark so he pulled the curtains.15crowd/votes etc [transitive] if an event, performer etc pulls crowds or a politician pulls a lot of votes, a lot of people come to see them or vote for them: Muhammad Ali can still pull the crowds.16attract/influence [transitive] to attract or influence someone or their thoughts or feelings: The city’s reputation for a clean environment has pulled new residents from other states.17sexually attract [intransitive, transitive] British English spoken to attract someone in order to have sex with them or spend the evening with them: He knew he could pull any girl he wanted.18stop event [transitive] to stop a planned event from taking place: They pulled the concert.19pull somebody’s licence informal to take away someone’s licence to do something, especially to drive a car, because they have done something wrong20stop a vehicle [intransitive, transitive] to drive a vehicle somewhere and stop, or to make a vehicle gradually slow down and stoppull something into/towards/down etc something She pulled the car into a side street. The bus pulled to a halt.21car [intransitive] if a car pulls to the left or right as you are driving, it moves in that direction because of a problem with its machinery22something is like pulling teeth used to say that it is very difficult or unpleasant to persuade someone to do something: Getting him to do his homework is like pulling teeth.23beer [transitive] British English to get beer out of a barrel by pulling a handle: The barman laughed and began to pull a couple of pints.24pull a punch to deliberately hit someone with less force than you could do, so that it hurts less → not pull any punches at punch2(6)25cricket/golf/baseball [intransitive, transitive] to hit the ball in cricket, golf, or baseball so that it does not go straight but moves to one side26row a boat [intransitive, transitive] to make a boat move by using oars → pull/make a face at face1(2), → pull your finger out at finger1(12), → pull rank (on somebody) at rank1(5), → pull the rug (out) from under somebody’s feet at rug(3), → pull the plug (on something) at plug1(5), → pull your socks up at sock1(3), → pull your weight at weight1(12), → pull the wool over somebody’s eyes at wool(4)THESAURUSpull to make something or someone move in the direction that your hands are moving: · He pulled her towards him and kissed her.· Sam was pulling on his socks.tug to pull something suddenly with a short quick movement, often to get someone’s attention: · ‘Look,’ he said, tugging at his brother’s sleeve.· I tugged at the drawer but it wouldn’t open.drag to pull something along the ground, especially because it is heavy: · If we can’t lift the piano, we’ll have to drag it.haul to pull something big and heavy using a lot of effort, especially upwards and using a rope: · They hauled their boats further up the beach.· fishermen hauling in their netsheave to pull or lift something very heavy, especially with one movement: · He heaved the sack of sand onto his shoulder.draw formal to pull something or someone gently in a particular direction: · Lisa reached for his hand but he drew it away.pull to be attached to a vehicle or piece of machinery and make it move behind you in the direction you are going: · Ten dogs were pulling a sledge over the ice.· a tractor pulling a ploughtow to pull a vehicle behind – used about a vehicle, a boat, or a horse pulling something using a rope or chain: · The car in front of us was towing a caravan.· Horses were used to tow the boats along the canals.draw to pull a vehicle such as a carriage – used especially about horses doing this: · a carriage drawn by four horses· a horse-drawn cartpull ahead phrasal verb if one vehicle pulls ahead of another, it gets in front of it by moving faster: Schumacher pulled ahead of Montoya as the two drivers approached the first corner of the race.pull apart phrasal verb1pull something ↔ apart to separate something into pieces: Pull the meat apart with two forks.2 pull somebody ↔ apart to make the relationships between people in a group bad or difficult: His drinking pulled the family apart.3pull something ↔ apart to carefully examine or criticize something: The selection committee pulled each proposal apart.4 pull somebody/something ↔ apart to separate people or animals when they are fighting: The fight ended only when the referee pulled the two players apart.5if something pulls apart, it breaks into pieces when you pull on itpull at/on something phrasal verb1to take hold of something and pull it several times: Mary was pulling nervously at her hair.2to take smoke from a pipe or cigarette into your lungs: He pulled hard on the cigarette.3to take a long drink from a bottle or glasspull away phrasal verb1to start to drive away from a place where you had stopped: He waved as he pulled away.2to move ahead of a competitor by going faster or being more successfulpull away from Nkoku is pulling away from the other runners.pull back phrasal verb1to decide not to do or become involved in somethingpull back from In the end, he pulled back from financing the film.2to get out of a bad situation or dangerous place, or to make someone else do thispull back from Many banks are pulling back from international markets.pull somebody ↔ back They are preparing to pull back their forces.3pull something ↔ back British English if a team that is losing pulls back a goal or some points, it succeeds in scoring a goal or some points: Our play improved and we pulled back two goals.pull down phrasal verb1pull something ↔ down to destroy something or make it stop existing: My old school was pulled down.2pull down something to earn a particular amount of money: Real estate stocks pulled down total returns of 35.7 percent.3pull somebody down to make someone less successful, happy, or healthy: Her problems have really pulled her down.4pull down a menu to make a computer program show you a list of the things it can dopull for somebody/something phrasal verb informal to encourage a person or team to succeed: The crowd were pulling for me to do well.pull in phrasal verb1if a driver pulls in, they move to the side of the road and stop: She pulled in to let the ambulance pass.2if a train pulls in, it arrives at a station OPP pull out3pull somebody/something ↔ in to attract business, money, people etc: a publicity stunt to pull in the crowds4pull in something informal if you pull in a lot of money, you earn it5pull somebody ↔ in if a police officer pulls someone in, they take them to a police station because they think that person may have done something wrongpull off phrasal verb1 pull something ↔ off informal to succeed in doing something difficult: The goalkeeper pulled off six terrific saves.2 pull off (something) to drive a car off a road in order to stop, or to turn into a smaller road: We pulled off the road to get some food.pull on something phrasal verb to pull at somethingpull out phrasal verb1a)to drive onto a road from another road or from where you have stopped: Don’t pull out! There’s something coming. b)to drive over to a different part of the road in order to get past a vehicle in front of you: I pulled out to overtake a bus.2if a train pulls out, it leaves a station OPP pull in3to stop doing or being involved in something, or to make someone do this: McDermott pulled out with an injury at the last minute.pull out of They are trying to pull out of the agreement.pull somebody out of something He threatened to pull his son out of the team.4to get out of a bad situation or dangerous place, or to make someone or something do this: Jim saw that the firm was going to be ruined, so he pulled out.pull somebody/something ↔ out Most of the troops have been pulled out.pull out of when the country was still pulling out of a recession → pull out all the stops at stop2(7)pull over phrasal verb to drive to the side of the road and stop your car, or to make someone else do this: The policeman signalled to him to pull over.pull somebody/something ↔ over He pulled the car over. A cop pulled him over and gave him a speeding ticket.pull (somebody) through phrasal verb1to stay alive after you have been very ill or badly injured, or to help someone do this: His injuries are severe but he’s expected to pull through. → bring (somebody) through at bring2to succeed in doing something very difficult, or to help someone to do this: He relied on his experience to pull him through.pull together phrasal verb1if a group of people pull together, they all work hard to achieve something: If we all pull together, we’ll finish on time.2pull yourself together to force yourself to stop behaving in a nervous, frightened, or uncontrolled way: With an effort Mary pulled herself together.3pull something together to improve something by organizing it more effectively: We need an experienced manager to pull the department together.pull up phrasal verb1to stop the vehicle that you are driving: He pulled up in front of the gates.2pull up a chair/stool etc to get a chair etc and sit down next to someone who is already sitting3pull somebody up especially British English to stop someone who is doing something wrong and tell them you do not approvepull up on I felt I had to pull her up on her lateness. → pull somebody up short at short3(7)pull1 verbpull2 noun
pullpull2 ●○○ noun EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Give the rope a good pull.
- I couldn't remember where the pull was to open the parachute.
- I took one last pull from the water jug.
- She gave a gentle pull on the reins, and the horse stopped.
- That door sticks a bit - give it a good pull.
- The pull of the Bavarian countryside is strong.
- The former Senator has a lot of pull with the Republicans in Congress.
- The moon's pull on the Earth's oceans creates the tides.
- After about a year I gave in to the pull and discovered that fatherhood has made me a much more serious person.
- An average student, he felt the pull and excitement of the Army, so he left college to enlist in 1942.
- Another pull for ten minutes or so brought me up on to the summit, where I sat down to have my lunch.
- As they were collapsing, the gravitational pull of matter outside these regions might start them rotating slightly.
- Specifically, investors should diversify with quality stocks and continue to invest for the long pull.
- That pull does not usually create as much immediate conflict for them.
- The final pull of day is seduced away to another gathering.
WORD SETS
bail, nounbat, verbbatsman, nounboundary, nounbowl, verbbowler, nounbowling, nouncatch, verbcentury, nouncrease, nouncricketer, noundismiss, verbduck, noungoogly, nouninfield, nouninnings, nounlbw, adverblob, verbloft, verbover, nounpavilion, nounpitch, verbpull, nounrun, nounsingle, nounsix, numberslip, nounspinner, nounstand, nounstump, nounstump, verbtest, nountest match, nounwicket, nounwicket keeper, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY He gave her a sharp pull forward.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES A couple of men started fighting and we had to pull them apart. She broke free from her attacker. the gravitational pull of the Moon He pulled a hamstring in training. You need something to pull in the punters (=attract them). She tied the rope around the post and pulled it tight. He took aim and squeezed the trigger.
He gave her a sharp pull forward. A couple of men started fighting and we had to pull them apart.· All the medieval buildings were torn down.
(=moves away from the side of the road)· A car suddenly pulled out in front of me.
(=stops)· Why’s that police car pulling up here?
(=stops on the side of a road)
(=move a chair nearer someone or something)· Pull up a chair and look at these pictures.
(=smoke a cigarette with deep breaths)· Ed was leaning out of the window and dragging on a cigarette.
(=make a lot of people come to something)· Low prices always pull in the crowds.
(=close them)· The room was dark because the curtains were drawn.
(=open them)· Would you mind opening the curtains?
(=decide not to make a deal after discussing one)· Twenty-five jobs were lost after their partner pulled out of the deal.
(=stop a plane going down)· He tried to pull out of the steep dive before hitting the ground.
(=open it)· He pulled open drawers until he found the papers.
(=to change your expression to make people laugh or to show you are angry, disappointed etc)· Here’s a funny photo of Joe pulling a face.
She broke free from her attacker.· Eleanor put on her gloves and stood up.
the gravitational pull of the Moon He pulled a hamstring in training. (=injure it)· He pulled a muscle in his calf.
· She pulled herself into a sitting position.
You need something to pull in the punters (=attract them).· He pulled the trapdoor shut over his head.
She tied the rope around the post and pulled it tight.· The train pulled into Euston station and I got off.
He took aim and squeezed the trigger.· He pulled himself upright on the sofa.
(=win when it is difficult)· Martin pulled off a surprise victory in the semi-final.
(=win when it is difficult to win)· The side has pulled off two excellent wins in the past couple of weeks.
· The driver was pulled from the wreckage of his car.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE· As they were collapsing, the gravitational pull of matter outside these regions might start them rotating slightly.· After a while we are aware of a deviation, the gravitational pull of an unseen planet.· Spring Tides - Moon and Sun in opposition, with combined gravitational pull. 4.· As if this were an apex of this island, its source of gravitational pull.· The complete system involved includes a flat surface - a table, perhaps - and a steady downward gravitational pull.· Such a situation creates a gravitational pull toward contractual arrangements and a corresponding push away from employment in the traditional sense.· What, even so, of the required gravitational pull?· These counteract the tendency for the body to contract under its own gravitational pull.
· The newly created Reclamation Service exerted a magnetic pull on the best engineering graduates in the country.
· The closeness was as strong as the pull of their own lives; they lost the pain of individuality within its protection.· There was also a strong pull toward change.· Why does their melancholy sport exert such a strong pull on my heart?· They immediately began to produce stronger pulls than me at a slower, more measured speed.· York had a stronger pull than smaller towns and attracted migrants over much longer distances than most places.
NOUN· Lucker pulls the ring pull and extends it to him.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► pull/haul yourself up by your bootstraps► pull up the drawbridge► be drawn/pulled/picked out of the/a hat► not pull any/your punches► pull the rug (out) from under somebody/somebody’s feet
1act of moving something [countable] an act of using force to move something towards you or in the same direction that you are moving OPP push: - Jahsaxa's pals had virtually pulled hir to bits.
- You could easily finish your essay if you just sit down and pull your finger out!
- So, come on shoe companies, pull your finger out, deliver the goods you advertise.
- Anyone else would be tearing his hair out, confronted by a pack of jabbering foreigners, but does Feargal?
- I was pulling my hair out.
- It pulls at the heartstrings of every agent out there to see a young lady or anyone jeopardized by these conditions.
- That night the little creature did not stop crying and its pitiful little squeak tore at Aggie's heartstrings.
- However, it now plans to draw in its horns in anticipation of declining demand for farm machinery by cutting back production.
- And having got under them, he can't half tear them to pieces.
- Brandon Thomas opted to unveil his Aunt away from London fearful that the capital's theatre critics would tear it to pieces.
- He was thrown from his chariot and his horses tore him to pieces and devoured him.
- I had been given the power to obliterate, to steal a body from its grave and tear it to pieces.
- If Hyde returns while I am writing this confession, he will tear it to pieces to annoy me.
- They will tear you to pieces.
- We are lost, for they will surely tear us to pieces with their sharp claws.
- But the firm pulled the plug on the scheme last week, leaving McAlpine fuming.
- George Bush pulled the plug out here fairly early.
- Mir guys, pull the plug.
- Practically, the banks are not wishing to pull the plug.
- The banks can pull the plug.
- Then, on March 28, 1980, with no warning to the workers, Harvester pulled the plug.
- They studied referees' reports and may recommend pulling the plug again after the final at Wembley on March 27.
- When the gap gets to two seconds or less, I pull the plug.
- She never acted like an authority figure or pulled rank on me.
- He pulled rank and went to bed at half past eleven, leaving me on for the late-night drinks.
- I do not enjoy pulling rank, but I do not tolerate unmanly gossip and back-biting.
- In the end, Naughtie pulled rank, and took on the task himself.
- Vi had the situation under control but the chief could, and probably would, pull rank.
- A moment later, realising she was teetering on the brink of self-pity, she brought herself up short.
- A moment later, though, and she was bringing herself up short.
- But Blue brings himself up short, realizing that they have nothing really to do with Black.
- However, never bring a preclear up short on this material.
- She has a red face and a manner that pulls people up short.
- This brings us up short at the outset of our study.
- Maybe we needed to pull our socks up and we are trying to do just that.
- With 16 games to go Oxford have still got time to pull their socks up.
- You're not exactly a young lad any more so you've got to pull your socks up.
- Our family pulled up stakes every few years when Dad was in the Army.
- Moreover, when a business pulls up stakes or downsizes, an entire program can wither overnight.
- So, he pulled up stakes and moved to Allen County to oversee a farm.
- Sometimes, staying put is a greater act of courage than pulling up stakes and starting anew.
- Fred's pulling out all the stops for his daughter's wedding.
- If we pull out all the stops we should still be able to meet our deadline.
- They gave me a great leaving party - they really pulled out all the stops.
- CafÄ Pinot is pulling out all the stops with its four-course aphrodisiac menu.
- Judith Milner, a Healthcare consultant from Leeds pulls out all the stops when it comes to selling the range of services.
- Lott pulled out all the stops.
- Miss Pickering's pulled out all the stops this time.
- Soap bosses pulled out all the stops so football fever could infect Albert Square.
- There were occasions when Bloomsbury House pulled out all the stops on behalf of children who were clearly gifted - usually in the arts.
- We pulled out all the stops and gave the company a response in record time.
- He says he loves his kids, but when he pulls a stunt like this it makes me wonder.
- If you don't start pulling your weight around here, you're fired.
- All members were expected to pull their weight.
- Be firm, and tell him that he must either pull his weight or leave.
- For the average business, pulses and linseed didn't pull their weight.
- He didn't pull his weight, but knew how to keep it from the consultants.
- He just didn't pull his weight domestically.
- Some members of this class haven't been pulling their weight.
- The superiors counted on the new managers to pull their weight in contributing to the superiors' agendas.
- You subs are not pulling your weight.
- Don't try and pull the wool over my eyes - I can tell you've been smoking.
- The politicians are just trying to pull the wool over voters' eyes again.
- But it's not easy to pull the wool over our eyes.
- He found out we had been pulling the wool over his eyes for quite some time.
- The only conclusion a consumer can reach is that Microsoft managed to pull the wool over the eyes of millions of users.
- There are people who can pull the wool over peoples' eyes.
- You can't pull the wool over my eyes like that.
- You can not pull the wool over Hooper's eyes.
He gave her a sharp pull forward.2force [countable usually singular] a strong physical force that makes things move in a particular direction: the gravitational pull of the Moon3attraction [countable usually singular] the ability to attract someone or have a powerful effect on thempull of After about a year I gave in to the pull of fatherhood.4influence [singular, uncountable] informal special influence or power over other people: His family’s name gives him a lot of pull in this town.5climb [singular] British English a difficult climb up a steep road: It was a long pull up the hill.6muscle [countable usually singular] an injury to one of your muscles, caused by stretching it too much during exercise: a groin pull7smoke/drink [countable] an act of taking the smoke from a cigarette, pipe etc into your lungs or of taking a long drink of somethingpull on/at She took a long pull on her cigarette.8handle [countable] a rope or handle that you use to pull something: He popped the ring pull on another can of lager.9cricket/golf/baseball [countable] a way of hitting the ball in cricket, golf, or baseball so that it does not go straight, but moves to one side10on the pull British English informal trying to find someone who will take part in sexual activity with you