- to draw or haul toward oneself or itself, in a particular direction, or into a particular position: We pulled the sled up a hill.She pulled the child out of the path of the swerving bicycle.
- to draw or tug at with force: To ring the bell, just pull the rope.
- to rend or tear: to pull a cloth to pieces.
- to draw or pluck away from a place of growth, attachment, etc.: to pull a tooth;to pull weeds.
- to strip of feathers, hair, etc., as a bird or hide.
- to draw out (as a knife or gun) for ready use (usually followed by on): Do you know what to do when someone pulls a knife on you?
- to perform successfully (often followed by off): They pulled a spectacular coup.
- to carry out (especially something deceitful or illegal): Police believe the men pulled all three robberies. What kind of trick did she pull this time?
- to put on or affect: He pulled a long face when I reprimanded him.
- to withdraw or remove: to pull an ineffective pitcher.
- to attract or win: to pull many votes in the industrial areas.
- to bring (a horse) to a stand by pulling on the reins.
- to take (an impression or proof) from type, a cut or plate, etc.: to pull a print.
- to be provided with or rowed with (a certain number of oars): This boat pulls 12 oars.
- to propel by rowing, as a boat.
- to strain (a muscle, ligament, or tendon).
- to stretch (taffy or chewing gum).
- to be assigned (a specific task or duty): I pulled guard duty our first night in port.
- to hold in or check (a racehorse), especially so as to prevent from winning.
- to hit (a ball) so that it travels in a direction opposite to the side from which it was struck, as when a right-handed batter hits into left field.
- to exert a drawing, tugging, or hauling force (often followed by at).
- to inhale through a pipe, cigarette, etc.
- to become or come as specified, by being pulled: This rope will pull.
- to row.
- to proceed by rowing.
- (of an advertisement)
- to have effectiveness, as specified: The ad pulled badly.
- to be effective: That spot announcement really pulled!
- the act of pulling or drawing.
- force used in pulling; pulling power.
- a drawing in of smoke or a liquid through the mouth: He took a long, thoughtful pull on his pipe. I took a pull from the scout's canteen.
- influence, as with persons able to grant favors.
- a part or thing to be pulled; a handle or the like: to replace the pulls on a chest of drawers.
- a spell, or turn, at rowing.
- a stroke of an oar.
- a pulled muscle: He missed a week's work with a groin pull.
- a pulling of the ball, as in baseball or golf.
- the ability to attract; drawing power.
- an advantage over another or others.
- pull away,
- to move or draw back or away; withdraw.
- to free oneself with force: He tried to pull away from his opponent's powerful grip.
- to move or start to move ahead: The car pulled away into traffic. The faster runners began to pull away from the others.
- pull down,
- to draw downward: to pull a shade down.
- to demolish; wreck.
- to lower; reduce.
- to receive as a salary; earn: It wasn't long before he was pulling down more than two hundred thousand a year.
- to support actively; encourage: They were pulling for the Republican candidate.
- pull in,
- to reach a place; arrive: The train pulled in early.
- to tighten; curb: to pull in the reins.
- to arrest (someone): The police pulled her in for questioning.
- to perform successfully, especially something requiring courage, daring, or shrewdness: We'll be rich if we can pull the deal off.
- pull out,
- to leave; depart: The ship pulled out of the harbor.
- to abandon abruptly: to pull out of an agreement.
- to direct one's automobile or other vehicle to the curb; move out of a line of traffic: The police officer told the driver to pull over.
- to come safely through (a crisis, illness, etc.); survive: The patient eventually pulled through after having had a close brush with death.
- pull up,
- to bring or come to a halt.
- to bring or draw closer.
- to root up; pull out: She pulled up all the crab grass in the lawn.
- to analyze critically, especially to point out errors: The professor proceeded to pull the student's paper apart.
- to recover one's self-control; regain command of one's emotions: It was only a minor accident, but the driver couldn't seem to pull himself together.
- leg (def. 26).
- plug (def. 35).
- to exert force on (an object) so as to draw it towards the source of the force
- to exert force on so as to remove; extract
- to strip of feathers, hair, etc; pluck
- to draw the entrails from (a fowl)
- to rend or tear
- to strain (a muscle, ligament, or tendon) injuriously
- to perform or bring about
- to draw out (a weapon) for use
- to attract
- to attract (a sexual partner)
- to drink or inhale deeply
- to put on or make (a grimace)
- to move (a vehicle) or (of a vehicle) be moved in a specified manner
- to take (a proof) from type
- to withdraw or remove
- to hit (a ball) so that it veers away from the direction in which the player intended to hit it (to the left for a right-handed player)
- to hit (a ball pitched straight or on the off side) to the leg side
- to strike (a fast-moving ball) in the same direction as it is already moving
- to row (a boat) or take a stroke of (an oar) in rowing
- to be rowed by
- (of a rider) to restrain (a horse), esp to prevent it from winning a race
- (of a horse) to resist strongly the attempts of a rider to rein in or check it
- to play a sly trick
- to criticize harshly
- be quiet!
- pull one's punches
- to restrain the force of one's criticisms or actions
- to restrain the force of one's blows, esp when deliberately losing after being bribed, etc
- to do one's fair or proper share of a task
- to exercise personal influence, esp secretly or unofficially
- to make fun of, fool, or tease someone
- an act or an instance of pulling or being pulled
- the force or effort used in pulling
- the act or an instance of taking in drink or smoke
- something used for pulling, such as a knob or handle
- special advantage or influence
- the power to attract attention or support
- a period of rowing
- a single stroke of an oar in rowing
- the act of pulling the ball in golf, cricket, etc
- the act of checking or reining in a horse
- the amount of resistance in a bowstring, trigger, etc
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