pull

—pullable, adj. —puller, n.

/pool/, v.t.

1. to draw or haul toward oneself or itself, in a particular direction, or into a particular position: to pull a sled up a hill.

2. to draw or tug at with force.

3. to rend or tear: to pull a cloth to pieces.

4. to draw or pluck away from a place of growth, attachment, etc.: to pull a tooth; to pull weeds.

5. to strip of feathers, hair, etc., as a bird or hide.

6. to draw out (as a knife or gun) for ready use (usually fol. by on): Do you know what to do when someone pulls a knife on you?

7. Informal. to perform successfully (often fol. by off): They pulled a spectacular coup.

8. Informal. to carry out (esp. something deceitful or illegal): Police believe the men pulled all three robberies. What kind of trick did she pull this time?

9. to put on or affect: He pulled a long face when I reprimanded him.

10. to withdraw or remove: to pull an ineffective pitcher.

11. to attract or win: to pull many votes in the industrial areas.

12. to bring (a horse) to a stand by pulling on the reins.

13. Print., Graphics. to take (an impression or proof) from type, a cut or plate, etc.: to pull a print.

14. to be provided with or rowed with (a certain number of oars): This boat pulls 12 oars.

15. to propel by rowing, as a boat.

16. to strain (a muscle, ligament, or tendon).

17. Mil. to be assigned (a specific task or duty): I pulled guard duty our first night in port.

18. to hold in or check (a racehorse), esp. so as to prevent from winning.

19. Sports. 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.

v.i.

20. to exert a drawing, tugging, or hauling force (often fol. by at).

21. to inhale through a pipe, cigarette, etc.

22. to become or come as specified, by being pulled: This rope will pull.

23. to row.

24. to proceed by rowing.

25. (of an advertisement)

a. to have effectiveness, as specified: The ad pulled badly.

b. to be effective: That spot announcement really pulled!

26. pull apart, to analyze critically, esp. to point out errors: The professor proceeded to pull the student's paper apart.

27. pull away,

a. to move or draw back or away; withdraw.

b. to free oneself with force: He tried to pull away from his opponent's powerful grip.

c. to move or start to move ahead: The car pulled away into traffic. The faster runners began to pull away from the others.

28. pull down,

a. to draw downward: to pull a shade down.

b. to demolish; wreck.

c. to lower; reduce.

d. Informal. to receive as a salary; earn: It wasn't long before he was pulling down more than fifty thousand a year.

29. pull for, to support actively; encourage: They were pulling for the Republican candidate.

30. pull in,

a. to reach a place; arrive: The train pulled in early.

b. to tighten; curb: to pull in the reins.

c. Informal. to arrest (someone): The police pulled her in for questioning.

31. pull off, Informal. to perform successfully, esp. something requiring courage, daring, or shrewdness: We'll be rich if we can pull the deal off.

32. pull oneself together, 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.

33. pull out,

a. to leave; depart: The ship pulled out of the harbor.

b. to abandon abruptly: to pull out of an agreement.

34. pull over, 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.

35. pull someone's leg, See leg (def. 21).

36. pull the plug. See plug (def. 20).

37. pull through, to come safely through (a crisis, illness, etc.); survive: The patient eventually pulled through after having had a close brush with death.

38. pull up,

a. to bring or come to a halt.

b. to bring or draw closer.

c. to root up; pull out: She pulled up all the crab grass in the lawn.

n.

39. the act of pulling or drawing.

40. force used in pulling; pulling power.

41. 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.

42. Informal. influence, as with persons able to grant favors.

43. a part or thing to be pulled; a handle or the like: to replace the pulls on a chest of drawers.

44. a spell, or turn, at rowing.

45. a stroke of an oar.

46. Informal. a pulled muscle: He missed a week's work with a groin pull.

47. a pulling of the ball, as in baseball or golf.

48. Informal. the ability to attract; drawing power.

49. Informal. an advantage over another or others.

[bef. 1000; ME pullen (v.), OE pullian to pluck, pluck the feathers of, pull, tug; cf. MLG pulen to strip off husks, pick, ON pula to work hard]

Syn. 2. See draw.

Ant. 2. push.

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