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pull off

 - 9 dictionary results

pull-off

  [pool-awf, -of]
Use pull off in a Sentence
–noun
1. an act of pulling off: The inn is well worth a pull-off from the Interstate.
2. a rest area at the side of a road where vehicles may park.
Origin:
1855–60; n. use of v. phrase pull off

pull

  [pool]
–verb (used with object)
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. Printing, 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. Military. 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.
–verb (used without object)
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!
–noun
26. the act of pulling or drawing.
27. force used in pulling; pulling power.
28. 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.
29. Informal. influence, as with persons able to grant favors.
30. a part or thing to be pulled; a handle or the like: to replace the pulls on a chest of drawers.
31. a spell, or turn, at rowing.
32. a stroke of an oar.
33. Informal. a pulled muscle: He missed a week's work with a groin pull.
34. a pulling of the ball, as in baseball or golf.
35. Informal. the ability to attract; drawing power.
36. Informal. an advantage over another or others.
—Verb phrases
37. 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.
38. 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.
39. pull for, to support actively; encourage: They were pulling for the Republican candidate.
40. 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.
41. pull off, Informal. to perform successfully, esp. something requiring courage, daring, or shrewdness: We'll be rich if we can pull the deal off.
42. pull out,
a. to leave; depart: The ship pulled out of the harbor.
b. to abandon abruptly: to pull out of an agreement.
43. 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.
44. pull through, to come safely through (a crisis, illness, etc.); survive: The patient eventually pulled through after having had a close brush with death.
45. 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.
—Idioms
46. pull apart, to analyze critically, esp. to point out errors: The professor proceeded to pull the student's paper apart.
47. 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.
48. pull someone's leg, leg (def. 23).
49. pull the plug. plug (def. 35).
Origin:
bef. 1000; ME pullen (v.), OE pullian to pluck, pluck the feathers of, pull, tug; cf. MLG pūlen to strip off husks, pick, ON pūla to work hard

Related forms:
pull⋅a⋅ble, adjective
puller, noun

Synonyms:
2. See draw.

Antonyms:
2. push.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To pull off
pull   (pŏŏl)   
v.   pulled, pull·ing, pulls

v.   tr.

  1. To apply force to so as to cause or tend to cause motion toward the source of the force.

  2. To remove from a fixed position; extract: The dentist pulled the tooth.

  3. To tug at; jerk or tweak.

  4. To rip or tear; rend.

  5. To stretch (taffy, for example) repeatedly.

  6. To strain (a muscle, for example) injuriously.

  7. Informal To attract; draw: a performer who pulls large crowds.

  8. Slang To draw out (a weapon) in readiness for use: pull a gun; pulled a knife on me.

  9. Informal To remove: pulled the engine; pulled the tainted meat product from the stores.

  10. Sports To hit (a ball) so that it moves in the direction away from the dominant hand of the player propelling it, as to the left of a right-handed player.

  11. Nautical

    1. To operate (an oar) in rowing.

    2. To transport or propel by rowing.

    3. To be rowed by: That boat pulls six oars.

  12. To rein in (a horse) to keep it from winning a race.

  13. Printing To produce (a print or an impression) from type.

v.   intr.

  1. To exert force in moving something toward the source of the force.

  2. To drink or inhale deeply: pulled on the cold beer with gusto; pull on a cigarette.

  3. Nautical To row a boat.

  4. Informal To express or feel great sympathy or empathy: We're pulling for our new president.

n.  

  1. The act or process of pulling.

  2. Force exerted in pulling or required to overcome resistance in pulling.

  3. A sustained effort: a long pull across the mountains.

  4. Something, such as a knob on a drawer, that is used for pulling.

  5. A deep inhalation or draft, as on a cigarette or of a beverage.

  6. Slang A means of gaining special advantage; influence: The lobbyist has pull with the senator.

  7. Informal Ability to draw or attract; appeal: a star with pull at the box office.

  8. To move away or backward; withdraw: The limousine pulled away from the curb.

  9. To move ahead: The horse pulled away and took the lead in the race.

  10. To demolish; destroy: pull down an old office building.

  11. To reduce to a lower level.

  12. To depress, as in spirits or health.

  13. Informal To draw (money) as wages: pulls down a hefty salary.

  14. To arrive at a destination: We pulled in at midnight.

  15. To rein in; restrain.

  16. To arrest (a criminal suspect, for example).

  17. To leave or depart: The train pulls out at noon.

  18. To withdraw, as from a situation or commitment: After the crash, many Wall Street investors pulled out.

  19. To bring a vehicle to a stop at a curb or at the side of a road: We pulled over to watch the sunset.

  20. To instruct or force (a motorist) to bring his or her vehicle to a stop at a curb or at the side of a road: The state trooper pulled the speeding motorist over.

  21. To bring or come to a halt.

  22. To move to a position or place ahead, as in a race.

Phrasal Verb(s):
pull aheadTo move ahead, as in a race.
pull away

  1. To move away or backward; withdraw: The limousine pulled away from the curb.

  2. To move ahead: The horse pulled away and took the lead in the race.

pull backTo withdraw or retreat.
pull down

  1. To demolish; destroy: pull down an old office building.

  2. To reduce to a lower level.

  3. To depress, as in spirits or health.

  4. Informal To draw (money) as wages: pulls down a hefty salary.

pull in

  1. To arrive at a destination: We pulled in at midnight.

  2. To rein in; restrain.

  3. To arrest (a criminal suspect, for example).

pull off Informal To perform in spite of difficulties or obstacles; bring off: pulled off a last-minute victory.
pull out

  1. To leave or depart: The train pulls out at noon.

  2. To withdraw, as from a situation or commitment: After the crash, many Wall Street investors pulled out.

pull over

  1. To bring a vehicle to a stop at a curb or at the side of a road: We pulled over to watch the sunset.

  2. To instruct or force (a motorist) to bring his or her vehicle to a stop at a curb or at the side of a road: The state trooper pulled the speeding motorist over.

pull roundTo restore or be restored to sound health.
pull throughTo come or bring successfully through trouble or illness.
pull up

  1. To bring or come to a halt.

  2. To move to a position or place ahead, as in a race.


Idiom(s):
pull a fast one Informal To play a trick or perpetrate a fraud.

Idiom(s):
pull (oneself) togetherTo regain one's composure.

Idiom(s):
pull (one's) punchesTo refrain from deploying all the resources or force at one's disposal: didn't pull any punches during the negotiations.

Idiom(s):
pull (one's) weightTo do one's own share, as of work.

Idiom(s):
pull out all the stops Informal To deploy all the resources or force at one's disposal: The Inaugural Committee pulled out all the stops when arranging the ceremonies.

Idiom(s):
pull (someone's) legTo play a joke on; tease or deceive.

Idiom(s):
pull somethingTo carry out a deception or swindle.

Idiom(s):
pull strings/wires Informal To exert secret control or influence in order to gain an end.

Idiom(s):
pull the plug on Slang To stop supporting or bring to an end: pulled the plug on the new art courses.

Idiom(s):
pull the rug (out) from under Informal To remove all support and assistance from, usually suddenly.

Idiom(s):
pull the stringBaseball To throw an off-speed pitch.

Idiom(s):
pull the wool over (someone's) eyesTo deceive; hoodwink.

Idiom(s):
pull togetherTo make a joint effort.

Idiom(s):
pull up stakesTo clear out; leave: She pulled up stakes in New England and moved to the desert.

[Middle English pullen, from Old English pullian.]
pull'er n.
Synonyms: These verbs mean to cause something to move toward the source of an applied force: pull a sled up a hill; drag furniture across the floor; drew up a chair; hauls wood from the forest; a car that tows a trailer; tugged at the oars.
Antonym: push
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Slang Dictionary
beat off

and ball off; jack off; jag off; jerk off; pull (oneself)
  1. in.
    to masturbate. (Usually objectionable.) : They say if you beat off too much, you'll get pimples.
  2. in.
    to waste time; to waste one's efforts; to do something inefficiently. : The whole lot of them were jacking off rather than sticking to business. , Stop whanking off and get on with your work!
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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pull (one's)

  1. tv.
    to pull back during a boxing punch just before the full force of a blow is felt; to land lighter blows than normal upon an opponent. (Boxing and related sports.) : The boxer started pulling his punches, and the ref ended the fight.
  2. tv.
    to hold back in one's criticism; to attenuate the intensity of one's remarks. (Also with any in the negative.) : I won't pull my punches with you. This is lousy.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
pull (sth) off

  1. tv.
    to make something happen. : It takes a lot of skill to pull off something like that.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

pull  (v.)
O.E. pullian "to pluck or draw out," of unknown origin, perhaps related to Low Ger. pulen "remove the shell or husk." Original sense preserved in pull teeth, pull weeds, etc., by late 16c. it had replaced draw as the main word for this activity. The noun meaning "personal or private influence" is 1889 in Amer.Eng. Common verb in slang usages 19c.-20c.; to pull (someone's) chain in figurative sense is from 1980, probably on the notion of a captive animal; to pull (someone's) leg is from 1886, on notion of "playfully tripping." To pull one's punches is from 1934; pull in "arrive" is 1905, from the railroad; to pull (something) on (someone) is from 1916; to pull (something) out of one's ass is Army slang from 1970s. Pullover first recorded 1907. To pull rank is from 1923; to pull the rug from under (someone) is from 1946.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: 2pull
Function: noun
: an injury resulting from abnormal straining or stretching especially of a muscle —see GROIN PULL
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Idioms & Phrases

pull off

Accomplish, bring off, especially in the face of difficulties or at the last minute. For example, I never thought we'd ever stage this play, but somehow we pulled it off. [Colloquial; second half of 1800s]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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