pull

Universal Words verb, noun verb move / remove sth 1 to hold sth firmly and use force in order to move it or try to move it towards yourself: [V] You push and I'll pull. * Don't pull so hard or the handle will come off. * I pulled on the rope to see if it was secure. * [VN] Stop pulling her hair! * She pulled him gently towards her. * [VN-ADJ] Pull the door shut. 2 [VN] [usually +adv./prep.] to remove sth from a place by pulling: Pull the plug out. * She pulled off her boots. * He pulled a gun on me (= took out a gun and aimed it at me). 3 [VN+adv./prep.] to move sb/sth in a particular direction by pulling: Pull your chair nearer the table. * He pulled his sweater on / pulled on his sweater. * She took his arm and pulled him along. 4 [VN] to hold or be attached to sth and move it along behind you: In this area oxen are used to pull carts. body 5 [+adv./prep.] to move your body or a part of your body in a particular direction, especially using force: [V] He tried to kiss her but she pulled away. * [VN] The dog snapped at her and she quickly pulled back her hand. * [VN-ADJ] John pulled himself free and ran off. curtains 6 [VN] to open or close curtains, etc: Pull the curtains-it's dark outside. muscle 7 [VN] to damage a muscle, etc. by using too much force: to pull a muscle / ligament / tendon switch 8 [VN] to move a switch, etc. towards yourself or down in order to operate a machine or piece of equipment: Pull the lever to start the motor. * Don't pull the trigger! vehicle / engine 9 ~ (sth) to the right / the left / one side to move or make a vehicle move sideways: [V] The wheel is pulling to the left. * [VN] She pulled the car to the right to avoid the dog. 10 [V] (of an engine) to work hard and use a lot of power: The old car pulled hard as we drove slowly up the hill. boat 11 [usually +adv./prep.] to use OARS to move a boat along: [V] They pulled towards the shore. [also VN] crowd / support 12 [VN] ~ sb/sth (in) to attract the interest or support of sb/sth: They pulled in huge crowds on their latest tour. attract sexually 13 (BrE, informal) to attract sb sexually: [VN] He can still pull the girls. * [V] She's hoping to pull tonight. trick / crime 14 [VN] (informal) to succeed in playing a trick on sb, committing a crime, etc: He's pulling some sort of trick on you. cancel 15 [VN] (informal) to cancel an event; to stop showing an advertisement, etc: The gig was pulled at its last moment. IDIOMS pull a fast one (on sb) (slang) to trick sb pull sb's leg (informal) to play a joke on sb, usually by making them believe sth that is not true pull the other one (-it's got bells on) (BrE, spoken) used to show that you do not believe what sb has just said pull out all the stops (informal) to make the greatest effort possible to achieve sth pull the plug on sb/sth (informal) to put an end to sb's project, a plan, etc: The television company pulled the plug on the series after only five episodes. pull your punches (informal) (usually used in negative sentences) to express sth less strongly than you are able to, for example to avoid upsetting or shocking sb: Her articles certainly don't pull any punches. pull sth / a rabbit out of the hat (informal) to suddenly produce sth as a solution to a problem pull rank (on sb) to make use of your place or status in society or at work to make sb do what you want pull the rug (out) from under sb's feet (informal) to take help or support away from sb suddenly pull your socks up (BrE, informal) to try to improve your performance, work, behaviour, etc: You're going to have to pull your socks up. pull strings (for sb) (AmE also pull wires) (informal) to use your influence in order to get an advantage for sb pull the strings to control events or the actions of other people pull your weight to work as hard as everyone else in a job, an activity, etc. pull the wool over sb's eyes (informal) to try and deceive sb; to hide your real actions or intentions from sb moreatBOOTSTRAP, FACEn., HORN, PIECEn., SHREDn. PHRASALVERBS pull ahead (of sb/sth) to move in front of sb/sth: The cyclists were together until the bend, when Tyler pulled ahead. pull sb/sth apart to separate people or animals that are fighting pull sth apart to separate sth into pieces by pulling different parts of it in different directions pull at sth = PULLONSTH pull away (from sth) (of a vehicle) to start moving: They waved as the bus pulled away. pull back 1 (of an army) to move back from a place SYNWITHDRAW 2 to decide not to do sth that you were intending to do, because of possible problems SYNWITHDRAW: Their sponsors pulled back at the last minute. pull sb<->back to make an army move back from a place pull back