Language Research

pull · verb

/pʊl/Full view

pull

A2 I or T to take hold of something and move it toward you

Dictionary examples:

He pulled the box across the floor to the door.

He pulled her out of the water.

A small child was pulling at her sleeve.

Don't pull Ellie's hair!

Learner example:

The man that pulled me into the house had a familiar face but I didn't recogni[z]e him. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Spanish)

pull sth off/out/up

B1 to take hold of something and use physical effort to remove it from somewhere

Dictionary examples:

I pulled the plug out.

He pulled off his sweater.

I spent the morning pulling up the weeds in the flowerbeds.

Learner example:

My tv is broken because of my little sister: she pulled out the cable. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Spanish)

pull yourself along/up, etc.

B2 to take hold of something and use effort to move your body forward or up

Dictionary example:

She pulled herself up the stairs, holding onto the rail.

Learner example:

Rollo and the police ran after him and then Rollo fired wounding Harry, who started to pull himself up the stairs to a manhole above his head and then he died. (First Certificate in English; B2; Italian)

pull a muscle

C2 to injure a muscle by stretching it too much

Dictionary example:

I pulled a muscle in my leg when I was skiing.

pull your weight

C2 to work as hard as other people in a group

Dictionary example:

The rest of the team complained that Sarah wasn't pulling her weight.

Learner example:

For instance, before your kin get all nice and comfortable, you could ask them to pull their weight around the house by doing a few jobs. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Greek)

pull strings

C2 to secretly use the influence that you have over important people to get something or to help someone

Dictionary example:

I may be able to pull a few strings, if you need the money urgently.

Learner example:

This isn't secret: I thought some of these ideas might be of interest and perhaps an article about them [i]n your newspaper would pull the necessary strings at the City Hall to produce some very much needed changes. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Catalan)

pull down sth or pull sth down

B2 to destroy a building

Dictionary example:

They pulled down the warehouse to build a new supermarket.

Learner example:

In addition to that, I'd do [my] very best to persuade the city council to arrange for the old, ugly houses to be pulled down as quickly as possible. (First Certificate in English; B2; Polish)

pull in/into sth

B2 If a vehicle pulls in or pulls into somewhere, it moves in that direction and stops there.

Dictionary example:

They just pulled into the driveway.

Learner example:

He killed her and threw her body out of the train not far from the station, when the train [was] pulling in. (First Certificate in English; B2; French)

pull out

B2 If a vehicle pulls out, it starts moving onto a road or onto a different part of the road.

Dictionary example:

That car pulled out right in front of me.

pull over

B2 If a vehicle pulls over, it moves to the side of the road and stops.

Dictionary example:

I was looking for somewhere to pull over so I could look at the map.

pull up

B2 If a vehicle pulls up, it stops, often for a short time.

Dictionary example:

A car pulled up outside the bank and two men got out.

Learner example:

I was walking home late one evening, when a car pulled up alongside me. (First Certificate in English; B2; Portuguese)