Synonyms

pull up

[pool-uhp] Origin

pull-up

[pool-uhp]
noun
1.
an exercise consisting of chinning oneself, as on a horizontal bar attached at each end to a doorpost.
2.
a flight maneuver in which an aircraft climbs sharply from level flight.
Also, pull·up.


Origin:
1850–55; noun use of verb phrase pull up

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Pull up is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison.
Dictionary.com Unabridged

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.
EXPAND
6.
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?
7.
Informal. to perform successfully (often followed by off): They pulled a spectacular coup.
8.
Informal. 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?
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), especially 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.
COLLAPSE
verb (used without object)
20.
to exert a drawing, tugging, or hauling force (often followed 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.
EXPAND
25.
(of an advertisement)
a.
to have effectiveness, as specified: The ad pulled badly.
b.
to be effective: That spot announcement really pulled!
COLLAPSE
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.
EXPAND
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.
COLLAPSE
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, especially something requiring courage, daring, or shrewdness: We'll be rich if we can pull the deal off.
EXPAND
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.
COLLAPSE
46.
pull apart, to analyze critically, especially 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:
before 1000; Middle English pullen (v.), Old English pullian to pluck, pluck the feathers of, pull, tug; compare Middle Low German pūlen to strip off husks, pick, Old Norse pūla to work hard

pull·a·ble, adjective
pull·er, noun


2. See draw.


2. push.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To pull up
Collins
World English Dictionary
pull up
 
vb (often foll by with or on)
1.  (tr) to remove by the roots
2.  to move level (with) or ahead (of) or cause to move level (with) or ahead (of), esp in a race
3.  to stop
4.  (tr) to rebuke
 
n
5.  an exercise in which the body is raised up by the arms pulling on a horizontal bar fixed above the head
6.  old-fashioned (Brit) a roadside café

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

pull
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
EXPAND
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.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Slang Dictionary

pull (one's) definition


  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
American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases

pull up

  1. Stop or cause to stop, as in He pulled up his horse, or They pulled up in front of the door. [Early 1600s]

  2. Catch up, advance in relation to others, as in a race. For example, She was behind at the start, but she quickly pulled up. [Late 1800s] Also see pull oneself up by one's bootstraps.

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