pull
verb /pʊl/
/pʊl/
Verb Forms
Idioms Phrasal Verbs| present simple I / you / we / they pull | /pʊl/ /pʊl/ |
| he / she / it pulls | /pʊlz/ /pʊlz/ |
| past simple pulled | /pʊld/ /pʊld/ |
| past participle pulled | /pʊld/ /pʊld/ |
| -ing form pulling | /ˈpʊlɪŋ/ /ˈpʊlɪŋ/ |
- [intransitive, transitive] to take hold of something and use force in order to move it or try to move it towards yourself
- You push and I'll pull.
- Don't pull so hard or the handle will come off.
- He got hold of the end and pulled.
- pull on something I pulled on the rope to see if it was secure.
- pull at something He pulled at her coat sleeve.
- pull something Stop pulling her hair!
- She pulled the cord and the parachute opened.
- pull somebody/something + adv./prep. She pulled him gently towards her.
- He smiled and pulled her closer.
- pull something + adj. Pull the door shut.
- She pulled the straps tight.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- gently
- hard
- quickly
- …
- try to
- manage to
- at
- on
- towards/toward
- …
- pull (yourself) free
- pull yourself to your feet
- [transitive] to remove something from a place by pulling
- pull something If these weeds are not pulled, they will spread rapidly .
- He pulled a knife and stabbed the man.
- pull something + adv./prep. Pull the plug out.
- to pull out a gun/knife
- She pulled off her boots.
- James pulled his shirt over his head, letting it fall to the floor.
- They were still pulling bodies from the rubble.
- She he was spotted in the water and pulled to safety.
- He pulled a gun on me (= took out a gun and aimed it at me).
Extra Examples- Alison pulled the little dog out of the water.
- I pulled the letter out of my pocket.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- gently
- hard
- quickly
- …
- try to
- manage to
- at
- on
- towards/toward
- …
- pull (yourself) free
- pull yourself to your feet
- [transitive] pull somebody/something + adv./prep. to move somebody/something in a particular direction by pulling
- Pull your chair nearer the table.
- I pulled up a seat next to her.
- He pulled on his sweater.
- She took his arm and pulled him along.
- The sun was too bright so I pulled the blinds down.
- Mary pulled the blanket up over her head.
- He was the only living person pulled from the rubble that night .
- She pulled on her boots and hurried off.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- gently
- hard
- quickly
- …
- try to
- manage to
- at
- on
- towards/toward
- …
- pull (yourself) free
- pull yourself to your feet
- [transitive] pull something to hold or be attached to something and move it along behind you
- In this area oxen are used to pull carts.
- a car pulling a trailer
- The horses pulling the wagon stopped suddenly.
- Ponies were used to pull the coal trucks.
Synonyms pullpull- drag
- draw
- haul
- tow
- tug
- pull to hold something and move it in a particular direction; to hold or be attached to a vehicle and move it along behind you:
- Pull the chair nearer the table.
- They use oxen to pull their carts.
- drag to pull somebody/something in a particular direction or behind you, usually along the ground, and especially with effort:
- The sack is too heavy to lift—you’ll have to drag it.
- draw (formal) to move somebody/something by pulling them/it gently; to pull a vehicle such as a carriage:
- I drew my chair closer to the fire.
- a horse-drawn carriage
- haul to pull somebody/something to a particular place with a lot of effort:
- Fishermen were hauling in their nets.
- tow to pull a car, boat or light plane behind another vehicle, using a rope or chain:
- Our car was towed away by the police.
- tug to pull somebody/something hard in a particular direction:
- She tried to escape but he tugged her back.
- to pull/drag/draw/haul/tow/tug somebody/something along/down/towards something
- to pull/drag/draw/haul/tow somebody/something behind you
- to pull/drag/draw/haul a cart/sledge
- to pull/draw a coach/carriage
- to pull/haul/tow a truck
- horses pull/draw/haul something
- dogs pull/drag/haul something
- [intransitive, transitive] to move your body or a part of your body in a particular direction, especially using force
- + adv./prep. He tried to kiss her but she pulled away.
- pull something/yourself + adv./prep. The dog snapped at her and she quickly pulled back her hand.
- pull something/yourself + adj. John pulled himself free and ran off.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- gently
- hard
- quickly
- …
- try to
- manage to
- at
- on
- towards/toward
- …
- pull (yourself) free
- pull yourself to your feet
- [transitive] pull something to open or close curtains, etc. synonym draw
- Pull the curtains—it's dark outside.
- [transitive] pull something to damage a muscle, etc. by using too much force
- to pull a muscle/ligament/tendon
- He pulled a hamstring in training.
Synonyms injureinjure- wound
- hurt
- bruise
- sprain
- pull
- strain
- injure to harm yourself or somebody else physically, especially in an accident:
- He injured his knee playing hockey.
- Three people were injured in the crash.
- wound [often passive] (rather formal) to injure part of the body, especially by making a hole in the skin using a weapon:
- 50 people were seriously wounded in the attack.
- hurt to cause physical pain to somebody/yourself; to injure somebody/yourself:
- Did you hurt yourself?
- bruise to make a blue, brown or purple mark (= a bruise) appear on the skin after somebody has fallen or been hit; to develop a bruise
- sprain to injure part of your body, especially your ankle, wrist or knee, by suddenly twisting it, causing pain and swelling
- pull to damage a muscle, etc, by using too much force
- strain to injure yourself or part of your body by making it work too hard:
- Don’t strain your eyes by reading in poor light.
- to injure/hurt/strain yourself
- to injure/hurt/sprain/pull/strain a muscle
- to injure/hurt/sprain your ankle/foot/knee/wrist/hand
- to injure/hurt/strain your back/shoulder/eyes
- to injure/hurt your spine/neck
- to be badly/severely/slightly injured/wounded/hurt/bruised/sprained
Extra ExamplesTopics Illnessb1- He pulled a muscle in his back.
- She has pulled her Achilles tendon.
- [transitive] pull something 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!
- [intransitive, transitive] pull (something) to the right/the left/one side to move or make a vehicle move to the side
- The wheel is pulling to the left.
- She pulled the car to the right to avoid the dog.
- [intransitive] (of an engine) to work hard and use a lot of power
- The old car pulled hard as we drove slowly up the hill.
- [intransitive, transitive] pull (something) (+ adv./prep.) to use oars to move a boat along
- They pulled towards the shore.
- [transitive] pull somebody/something (in) to attract the interest or support of somebody/something
- They pulled in huge crowds on their latest tour.
- [transitive, intransitive] pull (somebody) (British English, informal) to attract somebody sexually and get them to spend the evening with you
- He can still pull the girls.
- She's hoping to pull tonight.
- [transitive] pull something (informal) to succeed in playing a trick on somebody, committing a crime, etc.
- He's pulling some sort of trick on you.
- [transitive] pull something (informal) to cancel an event; to stop showing an advertisement, etc.
- The gig was pulled at the last moment.
move/remove something
body
curtains
muscle
switch
vehicle/engine
boat
crowd/support
attract sexually
trick/crime
cancel
Word OriginOld English pullian ‘pluck, snatch’; origin uncertain; the sense has developed from expressing a short sharp action to one of sustained force.
Idioms
do/pull/serve double duty (as something)
- to perform two roles or functions at the same time
- This device can pull double duty as a decent laptop and an adequate tablet.
- She deserves credit for serving double duty as a host and performer.
draw/pull your horns in
- to start being more careful in your behaviour, especially by spending less money than before
- Small businesses have had to pull their horns in during the recession.
like pulling teeth
- (informal) used to say that it is very difficult to make somebody do something
- It's like pulling teeth trying to get him to talk.
pick/pull/tear somebody/something to pieces/shreds
- (informal) to criticize somebody, or their work or ideas, very severely
pull/drag yourself up by your (own) bootstraps
- (informal) to improve your situation yourself, without help from other people
pull/make faces/a face (at somebody)
- to produce an expression on your face to show that you do not like somebody/something or in order to make somebody laugh
- What are you pulling a face at now?
- Do you think it’s funny to make faces behind my back?
Extra ExamplesTopics Appearancec2- She made a disgusted face at that and walked away.
- She made a funny face and gave a snorting sort of laugh.
pull a fast one (on somebody)
- (slang) to trick somebody
pull in different/opposite directions
- to have different aims that cannot be achieved together without causing problems
- There are different considerations, often pulling in different directions.
pull it/something out of the bag
- (informal) to succeed in doing something difficult by making an extra effort or doing something clever or surprising
- We managed to pull it out of the bag despite not being at our best for most of the game.
pull somebody’s leg
- (informal) to play a joke on somebody, usually by making them believe something that is not true
pull the other one (—it’s got bells on)
- (British English, informal) used to show that you do not believe what somebody has just said
pull out all the stops
- (informal) to make the greatest effort possible to achieve somethingTopics Successc2
pull the plug on somebody/something
- (informal) to put an end to somebody’s project, a plan, etc.
- The television company pulled the plug on the series after only five episodes.
- They decided to pull the plug on the project.
pull your punches
- (informal) (usually used in negative sentences) to express something less strongly than you are able to, for example to avoid upsetting or shocking somebody
- Her articles certainly don't pull any punches.
pull something/a rabbit out of the hat
- (informal) to suddenly produce something as a solution to a problem
pull rank (on somebody)
- to make use of your place or status in society or at work to make somebody do what you want
pull the rug (out) from under somebody’s feet
- (informal) to take help or support away from somebody suddenly
pull your socks up
- (British English, informal) to try to improve your performance, work, behaviour, etc.
- You're going to have to pull your socks up.
pull strings (for somebody)
(North American English also pull wires)
- (informal) to use your influence in order to get an advantage for somebody
pull the strings
- to control events or the actions of other people
pull up stakes (North American English)
(British English up sticks)
- to suddenly move from your house and go to live somewhere else
- He pulled up stakes and went back to France.
pull your weight
- to work as hard as everyone else in a job, an activity, etc.
pull the wool over somebody’s eyes
- (informal) to hide your real actions or intentions from somebody by making them believe something that is not true