1an act of pulling something:give the hair a quick pull and it comes out by the roots
a handle to hold while pulling:the car didn’t have external door handles, just pulls inside
a deep draught of a drink:he unscrewed the cap from the flask and took another pull
an act of inhaling while smoking a pipe, cigarette, or cigar:he took a pull on his cheroot
[in singular]British an act of moving steadily or with effort:a pull for ten minutes brought me to the summit
an injury to a muscle or ligament caused by abnormal strain:he was ruled out of the game with a hamstring pull
2 [in singular] a force drawing someone or something in a particular direction:the pull of the water tore her away figurativethe pull of her home town was a strong one
[count noun] something exerting an influence or attraction:one of the pulls of urban life is the opportunity of finding employment
[mass noun] ability to exercise influence:the team might be seeded because of their pull within soccer’s international body
British informal an attempt to attract someone sexually:an eligible bachelor on the pull
3 Sport a pulling stroke.
4a printer’s proof.
ზმნა
Universal
1 [usually with adverbial] exert force on (someone or something) so as to cause movement towards oneself:he pulled her down on to the couch [with object and complement]:I pulled the door shut behind me figurativethey are pulled in incompatible directions by external factors and their own beliefs [no object]:the little boy pulled at her skirt
(of an animal or vehicle) be attached to the front and be the source of forward movement of (a vehicle):the carriage was pulled by four horses
[no object] (of an engine) exert propulsive force; deliver power:the engine warmed up quickly and pulled well
[with object and adverbial] remove or extract (something) by grasping and exerting force on it:she pulled a handkerchief out of her pockethe pulled on his bootsI pulled up some onions
[with adverbial of direction] (pull oneself) move in a specified direction with effort, especially by taking hold of something and exerting force:he pulled himself into the saddle
damage (a muscle, ligament, etc.) by abnormal strain:he pulled a calf muscle in the first half of the game and had to be replaced
informal bring out (a weapon) for use against someone:it’s not every day a young woman pulls a gun on a burglar
British draw (beer) from a barrel to serve:he ordered three beers and the barman pulled them
[no object] (pull at/on) inhale deeply while smoking (a pipe, cigarette, or cigar):she pulled on her cigarette and blew the smoke at him
2 [no object, with adverbial] move steadily in a specified direction or manner:the bus was about to pull awaythe boy pulled ahead and disappeared round the corner
[no object, with adverbial of direction] move one’s body in a specified direction, especially against resistance:she tried to pull away from him
3attract (someone) as a customer; cause to show interest in something:anyone can enter the show if they have a good act and the ability to pull a crowdtourist attractions which pull in millions of foreign visitors
British informal succeed in attracting sexually:I used my sense of humour to pull girls
informal carry out or achieve (something clever or duplicitous):the magazine pulled its trick of producing the right issue at the right time
4 informal cancel or withdraw (an entertainment or advertisement):the gig was pulled at the first sign of difficulty
North American withdraw or disqualify (a player) from a game:four of the leading eight runners were pulled
arrest:I am never likely to get pulled for speeding
check the speed of (a horse), especially so as to make it lose a race.
5 Cricket play (the ball) round to the leg side from the off.
Golf & Baseball strike (the ball) in the direction of one’s follow-through so that it travels to the left (or, with a left-handed player, the right).
6 [no object] American Football (of a lineman) withdraw from and cross behind the line of scrimmage to block opposing players and clear the way for a runner:he may be their best ever lineman—he can run and pull with the best
7print (a proof).
8 Computing retrieve (an item of data) from the top of a stack.
like pulling teeth
informal used to convey that something is extremely difficult to do:it had been like pulling teeth to extract these two small items from Moore
make use of one’s influence and contacts to gain an advantage unofficially or unfairly:he tried to pull strings with people he knew to avoid being called up
pull the strings
be in control of events or of other people’s actions:it’s uncomfortable to know that someone else is pulling the strings
pull together
cooperate in a task or undertaking:employees and managers began to pull together as a team
pull oneself together
recover control of one’s emotions:you’ve got to pull yourself together and find a job
1retreat or cause troops to retreat from an area:the pact called on the rival forces to pull back and allow a neutral force to take control
(pull back) withdraw from an undertaking:the party pulled back from its only positive policy
2 Sport improve or restore a team’s position by scoring a goal:he pulled back a goal three minutes before half timeRovers pulled back to 4-3 with a goal two minutes from time
pull something down
1demolish a building:the house was pulled down and the site redeveloped
2 informal earn a sum of money:he was pulling down sixty grand a year
pull in
British
1(of a vehicle) move to the side of or off the road:he pulled in at the kerb
2(of a bus or train) arrive to take passengers:he was ready and waiting half an hour before the express pulled in
pull someone/thing in
1succeed in securing or obtaining something:the party pulled in 10 per cent of the vote
informal earn a sum of money:you could pull in £100,000
2 informal arrest someone:I’d pull him in for questioning
3use reins to check a horse.
pull something off
informal succeed in achieving or winning something difficult:he pulled off a brilliant first round win
pull out
1withdraw from an undertaking:he was forced to pull out of the championship because of an injury
retreat or cause to retreat from an area:the army pulled out, leaving the city in ruins (pull someone out)the CIA had pulled its operatives out of Tripoli
2(of a bus or train) leave with its passengers:the train pulled out of the station at 2.05
3(of a vehicle) move out from the side of the road, or from its normal position in order to overtake:as he turned the corner a police car pulled out in front of him
pull over
(of a vehicle) move to the side of or off the road:I decided to pull over on to the hard shoulder
pull someone over
(of the police) cause a driver to pull off the road:he was pulled over for speeding
pull round
chiefly British recover from an illness:he was beginning to pull round after his operation
pull through (or pull someone/thing through)
get through an illness or other dangerous or difficult situation:the illness is difficult to overcome, but we hope she’ll pull through
pull up
1(of a vehicle) come to a halt:he pulled up outside the cottage
2increase the altitude of an aircraft.
pull someone up
cause someone to stop or pause; check:the shock of his words pulled her up short
British reprimand someone:she never failed to pull us up and tell us to stop
