pull

 Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++

Related topics: Illness & disability, Crime, Sport

pull1 /pʊl/ ●●● S1 W1 verb  1  move STH towards you 把某物拉过来 [intransitive, transitive]PULL to use your hands to make something or someone move towards you or in the direction that your hands are moving 拉；扯；拖 OPP push Mom! Davey’s pulling my hair! 妈妈! 戴维拽我的头发！pull somebody/something into/away from/over etc something He pulled her down into her seat. 他把她拉到座位上。pull something open/shut She pulled open the door and hurried inside. 她拉开门匆匆走了进去。2  remove 去掉 [transitive]PULL to use force to take something from the place where it is fixed or held 拔 She has to have two teeth pulled. 她必须拔掉两颗牙。pull something out/off/away etc Vicky had pulled the arm off her doll. 维基把娃娃的一只胳膊扯掉了。3  make STH follow you 让某物跟着你 [transitive]PULL to be attached to something or hold something and make it move behind you in the direction you are going 拖动，牵引 a tractor pulling a trailer 后挂一辆拖车的拖拉机4  take STH out 取出某物 [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to take something out of a bag, pocket etc with your hand 〔用手〕拿出，掏出 He pulled out his wallet and said ‘let me pay’. 他掏出钱包说道:“我来付吧。” Ben pulled a pen from his pocket. 本从口袋里掏出一支钢笔。pull a gun/knife (on somebody) (=take one out, ready to use it) 拔出枪/刀（对准某人）5  clothing 服装 [transitive always + adverb/preposition]PULL to put on or take off a piece of clothing, usually quickly 〔常指迅速地〕穿上，脱下pull on/off/up/down etc He pulled off his damp shirt. 他脱掉湿衬衫。6  move your body 移动身体 a) [intransitive, transitive always + adverb/preposition]BACK/BACKWARDS to move your body or part of your body away from someone or something 挣脱，移开，抽出pull something away/free She tried to pull her hand free, but it was held fast. 她想抽出手来，但是被牢牢地抓住了。pull something out of/from something She struggled fiercely, trying to pull her arm out of his grasp. 她使劲挣扎，想要抽出被他紧紧抓住的胳膊。pull away/back She pulled away from him. 她挣脱了他。 b) pull yourself up/to your feet etcPULL to hold onto something and use your strength to move your body towards it 〔抓住某物〕用力移动〔身体〕 Benny pulled himself up from the floor with difficulty. 本尼费力地从地板上站起来。7  muscle 肌肉 [transitive]MI to injure one of your muscles by stretching it too much during physical activity 拉伤〔肌肉〕 SYN strain Paul pulled a muscle trying to lift the freezer. 保罗想把冰柜抬起来，结果拉伤了肌肉。► see thesaurus at hurt8  pull strings to secretly use your influence with important people in order to get what you want or to help someone else 〔为了自己的利益或帮助别人而〕托关系，走后门 Francis pulled strings to get him out of trouble. 弗朗西斯托关系让自己摆脱了麻烦。9  pull the/somebody’s strings to control something or someone, especially when you are not the person who is supposed to be controlling them 幕后操纵；暗中控制 It was widely believed that Montagu was secretly pulling the strings behind the prime minister. 人们普遍认为蒙塔古在暗中控制首相。10  trick/crime 诡计/罪行 [transitive] informalSCC to succeed in doing something illegal or dishonest or in playing a trick on someone 犯下〔罪行〕；使出〔诡计〕 The gang have pulled another bank robbery. 那个团伙又犯下一桩银行抢劫案。 He was trying to pull a fast one (=deceive you) when he told you he’d paid. 他告诉你他已经付过款，其实他是想骗你。pull a stunt/trick/joke Don’t you ever pull a stunt like that again! 别再耍那样的花招了！11  pull somebody’s leg JOKEto tell someone something that is not true, as a joke 开某人的玩笑，耍弄某人，诓骗某人 I haven’t won, have I? You’re pulling my leg. 我没有赢，是吗？你在拿我开玩笑吧。12  pull the other one (it’s got bells on) British English spokenJOKE used to tell someone that you think they are joking or not telling the truth 别逗了 Your dad’s a racing driver? Pull the other one! 你爸是赛车手？别逗了！13  switch 开关 [transitive]PULL to move a control such as a switch, lever, or trigger towards you to make a piece of equipment work 拉〔开关〕；扣〔扳机〕 She raised the gun, and pulled the trigger. 她举起枪，扣动了扳机。14  pull the curtains/blinds DHto open or close curtains or blinds 拉开[拉上]窗帘/百叶帘 It was already getting dark so he pulled the curtains. 天色已暗，他拉上了窗帘。15  crowd/votes etc 人群/选票等 [transitive]GET if an event, performer etc pulls crowds or a politician pulls a lot of votes, a lot of people come to see them or vote for them 吸引〔大量选票或人〕，招徕〔支持〕 Muhammad Ali can still pull the crowds. 穆罕默德·阿里仍能吸引大批的支持者。16  attract/influence 吸引/影响 [transitive] to attract or influence someone or their thoughts or feelings 吸引，影响〔他人的思想或感情〕 The city’s reputation for a clean environment has pulled new residents from other states. 这座城市以干净整洁著称，吸引了来自其他州的新居民。17  sexually attract 具有性吸引力 [intransitive, transitive] British English spokenSEX/HAVE SEX WITH to attract someone in order to have sex with them or spend the evening with them 勾引 He knew he could pull any girl he wanted. 他知道自己要什么姑娘都能得手。18  stop event 取消活动 [transitive] to stop a planned event from taking place 取消〔预定的活动〕 They pulled the concert. 他们取消了音乐会。19. pull somebody’s licence informalSCL to take away someone’s licence to do something, especially to drive a car, because they have done something wrong 吊销某人的（驾驶）执照20  stop a vehicle 让车辆停下 [intransitive, transitive] to drive a vehicle somewhere and stop, or to make a vehicle gradually slow down and stop 〔把车〕开到某处停下；〔把车〕停在某处pull something into/towards/down etc something She pulled the car into a side street. 她把车开进一条小路停下来。 The bus pulled to a halt. 公共汽车停了下来。21. car 汽车 [intransitive]TTC if a car pulls to the left or right as you are driving, it moves in that direction because of a problem with its machinery 〔汽车由于机械故障不向正前方行驶而〕侧斜22  something is like pulling teeth used to say that it is very difficult or unpleasant to persuade someone to do something 〔劝某人〕做某事就像拔牙一样困难 Getting him to do his homework is like pulling teeth. 让他做家庭作业就像要给他拔牙一样难。23  beer 啤酒 [transitive] British EnglishDF to get beer out of a barrel by pulling a handle 拉酒桶把手放出〔啤酒〕 The barman laughed and began to pull a couple of pints. 酒吧男招待笑了笑，然后从酒桶里放出几品脱啤酒。24. pull a punch HITto deliberately hit someone with less force than you could do, so that it hurts less 故意不使出全力打某人〔以避免伤害〕 → not pull any punches at punch2(6)25. cricket/golf/baseball 板球/高尔夫球/棒球 [intransitive, transitive]DS to hit the ball in cricket, golf, or baseball so that it does not go straight but moves to one side 击（球）向左[右]26. row a boat 划船 [intransitive, transitive]TTWTTW to make a boat move by using oars 划（船） → pull/make a face at face1(2), → pull your finger out at finger1(12), → pull rank (on somebody) at rank1(5), → pull the rug (out) from under somebody’s feet at rug(3), → pull the plug (on something) at plug1(5), → pull your socks up at sock1(3), → pull your weight at weight1(12), → pull the wool over somebody’s eyes at wool(4) THESAURUSpull to make something or someone move in the direction that your hands are moving 拉；拽He pulled her towards him and kissed her. 他把她拉过来吻她。Sam was pulling on his socks. 萨姆把袜子往上拉。tug to pull something suddenly with a short quick movement, often to get someone’s attention 〔突然而迅速地〕拉,拖‘Look, ’ he said, tugging at his brother’s sleeve. “看。”他说着拉了拉他弟弟的袖子。I tugged at the drawer but it wouldn’t open. 我拉了拉抽屉,但拉不开。drag to pull something along the ground, especially because it is heavy 拖,拉〔重物〕If we can’t lift the piano, we’ll have to drag it. 如果我们抬不动钢琴,就只好拖了。haul to pull something big and heavy using a lot of effort, especially upwards and using a rope 〔尤用绳子往上〕拖,拉They hauled their boats further up the beach. 他们沿着海滩把船继续往岸上拖。 fishermen hauling in their nets 拉网的渔民heave to pull or lift something very heavy, especially with one movement 〔尤指一下子〕拖,拉，举起〔重物〕He heaved the sack of sand onto his shoulder. 他把沙袋举到肩上。draw formal to pull something or someone gently in a particular direction 〔轻柔地〕拉,拖Lisa reached for his hand but he drew it away. 莉萨去拉他的手,但他把手抽开了。pull to be attached to a vehicle or piece of machinery and make it move behind you in the direction you are going 拖动,牵引〔车辆或机器〕Ten dogs were pulling a sledge over the ice. 十条狗在冰上拉雪橇。a tractor pulling a plough 在拉犁的拖拉机tow to pull a vehicle behind – used about a vehicle, a boat, or a horse pulling something using a rope or chain 〔车辆、船、马等〕拖,牵引The car in front of us was towing a caravan. 我们前面的那辆汽车在牵引一辆大篷车。Horses were used to tow the boats along the canals. 马被用来沿着运河牵引小船。draw to pull a vehicle such as a carriage – used especially about horses doing this 〔尤指用马〕拖,拉车辆〕a carriage drawn by four horses 四驾马车a horse-drawn cart 马拉的大车 PHRASAL VERBS27 pull ahead phrasal verb TTif one vehicle pulls ahead of another, it gets in front of it by moving faster 〔车辆〕加快速度赶到〔…的〕前面；加速超越〔车〕 Schumacher pulled ahead of Montoya as the two drivers approached the first corner of the race. 舒马赫在接近比赛第一个弯道时超过了蒙托亚。28 pull apart phrasal verb a) pull something ↔ apart to separate something into pieces 把某物分成片[块] Pull the meat apart with two forks. 用两把叉子把肉分开。b) SAD/UNHAPPY pull somebody ↔ apart to make the relationships between people in a group bad or difficult 使某些人关系紧张，使某些人不和睦 His drinking pulled the family apart. 他酗酒致使家庭不和睦。c) pull something ↔ apart to carefully examine or criticize something 仔细检查某事物；细致地批评某事物 The selection committee pulled each proposal apart. 选拔委员会仔细斟酌了每个建议。d) SEPARATE pull somebody/something ↔ apart to separate people or animals when they are fighting 拉开[分开]打架的人/争斗的动物 The fight ended only when the referee pulled the two players apart. 裁判把两名球员拉开，打斗才停止。e) if something pulls apart, it breaks into pieces when you pull on it 撕裂，撕碎29 pull at/on something phrasal verb a) PULLto take hold of something and pull it several times 抓住并不断拉扯 Mary was pulling nervously at her hair. 玛丽不安地拉扯着自己的头发。b) SMOKEto take smoke from a pipe or cigarette into your lungs 吸，抽〔烟斗或烟〕 He pulled hard on the cigarette. 他狠命地吸烟。c) DFDto take a long drink from a bottle or glass 从〔瓶子或玻璃杯〕中大口地喝30 pull away phrasal verb a) TTLEAVE A PLACEto start to drive away from a place where you had stopped 开始驶离，开走 He waved as he pulled away. 他开走的时候挥了挥手。b) TTDSto move ahead of a competitor by going faster or being more successful 超越〔对手〕 from Nkoku is pulling away from the other runners. 恩科库把其他赛跑选手都甩在了后面。31 pull back phrasal verb a) to decide not to do or become involved in something 退出；退却 from In the end, he pulled back from financing the film. 最后，他决定不给那部电影提供资金。b) to get out of a bad situation or dangerous place, or to make someone else do this （使）撤退，（使）撤离 from Many banks are pulling back from international markets. 许多银行正在从国际市场撤出。pull somebody ↔ back They are preparing to pull back their forces. 他们正准备撤兵。c) pull something ↔ back British English if a team that is losing pulls back a goal or some points, it succeeds in scoring a goal or some points 〔比赛中〕扳回〔进球、得分等〕 Our play improved and we pulled back two goals. 我们的表现有所好转，扳回两球。32 pull down phrasal verb a) pull something ↔ downTBCDESTROY to destroy something or make it stop existing 拆毁某物，拆掉某物 My old school was pulled down. 我的母校被拆除了。b) pull down something to earn a particular amount of money 赚到〔一笔钱〕 Real estate stocks pulled down total returns of 35.7 percent. 房地产股票总回报率达35.7%。c) pull somebody downWORSE to make someone less successful, happy, or healthy 使某人受挫，使某人虚弱 Her problems have really pulled her down. 她遇到了麻烦，非常沮丧。d) pull down a menuTD to make a computer program show you a list of the things it can do 拉下计算机程序菜单33 pull for somebody/something phrasal verb informal to encourage a person or team to succeed 为…打气 The crowd were pulling for me to do well. 人群在为我加油。34 pull in phrasal verb a) TTCif a driver pulls in, they move to the side of the road and stop 〔汽车驾驶员〕驶向路边停下 She pulled in to let the ambulance pass. 她把车开到路边停下，好让救护车过去。b) TTTif a train pulls in, it arrives at a station 〔火车〕到站，进站 OPP pull outc) pull somebody/something ↔ inGET to attract business, money, people etc 吸引某人/某物 a publicity stunt to pull in the crowds 一个吸引人群的宣传噱头d) pull in something informalBEWEARN if you pull in a lot of money, you earn it 挣，赚〔很多钱〕e) pull somebody ↔ inSCP if a police officer pulls someone in, they take them to a police station because they think that person may have done something wrong 〔警察〕把〔嫌疑犯〕带回警察局，逮捕35 pull off phrasal verb a) SUCCEED IN DOING something pull something ↔ off informal to succeed in doing something difficult 成功完成〔困难的事〕 The goalkeeper pulled off six terrific saves. 那位守门员奋力扑救了六个险球。b) TTC pull off (something) to drive a car off a road in order to stop, or to turn into a smaller road 驶离（道路）〔停下或进入小路〕 We pulled off the road to get some food. 我们驶离大路去找点食物。36.pull on something phrasal verb to pull at something 拉扯某物37 pull out phrasal verb a) i. TTCto drive onto a road from another road or from where you have stopped 〔从另一条路或停靠的地方〕开上路 Don’t pull out! There’s something coming. 别开出去！有车过来。 ii. TTCto drive over to a different part of the road in order to get past a vehicle in front of you 借道超车 I pulled out to overtake a bus. 我借道一边想超过一辆公共汽车。b) TTTif a train pulls out, it leaves a station 〔火车〕驶出车站，离站 OPP pull inc) to stop doing or being involved in something, or to make someone do this （让）脱离；（使）退出 McDermott pulled out with an injury at the last minute. 麦克德莫特在最后时刻因伤退出。 of They are trying to pull out of the agreement. 他们试图退出协议。pull somebody out of something He threatened to pull his son out of the team. 他扬言说要让他的儿子离队。d) to get out of a bad situation or dangerous place, or to make someone or something do this （使）摆脱〔不好的局面〕，（使）撤离〔危险的地方〕 Jim saw that the firm was going to be ruined, so he pulled out. 吉姆看到公司即将破产，于是退出了。pull somebody/something ↔ out Most of the troops have been pulled out. 大部分军队已撤离。 of when the country was still pulling out of a recession 国家仍处在摆脱经济衰退困境的时候 → pull out all the stops at stop2(7)38 pull over phrasal verb TTCto drive to the side of the road and stop your car, or to make someone else do this 使〔车辆〕停靠在路边 The policeman signalled to him to pull over. 警察示意他把车停到路边。pull somebody/something ↔ over He pulled the car over. 他把车开到路边停下。 A cop pulled him over and gave him a speeding ticket. 一名警察让他把车开到路边停下，并给了他一张超速罚款单。39 pull (somebody) through phrasal verb a) SURVIVEto stay alive after you have been very ill or badly injured, or to help someone do this 〔从重病或重伤中〕恢复健康；帮助〔某人〕康复 His injuries are severe but he’s expected to pull through. 他的伤势很重，但有望康复。 → bring (somebody) through at bringb) SUCCEED IN DOING somethingto succeed in doing something very difficult, or to help someone to do this （帮助）克服困难，渡过难关 He relied on his experience to pull him through. 他依赖他的经验来渡过难关。40 pull together phrasal verb a) TRY TO DO OR GET somethingif a group of people pull together, they all work hard to achieve something 〔一群人〕同心协力，通力合作 If we all pull together, we’ll finish on time. 如果我们大家同心协力，就能按时完成。b) pull yourself togetherCONTROL to force yourself to stop behaving in a nervous, frightened, or uncontrolled way 控制自己的情绪，让自己冷静 With an effort Mary pulled herself together. 玛丽费了一番功夫，控制住自己的情绪。c) pull something togetherIMPROVE to improve something by organizing it more effectively 整顿某事物，把某事物重新组织好 We need an experienced manager to pull the department together. 我们需要一位有经验的经理来重整这个部门。41 pull up phrasal verb a) TTCto stop the vehicle that you are driving 〔使车〕停下 He pulled up in front of the gates. 他把车停在了门前。b) pull up a chair/stool etcSIT to get a chair etc and sit down next to someone who is already sitting 拿把椅子/凳子等〔坐在某人旁边〕c) pull somebody up especially British EnglishTELL somebody OFF to stop someone who is doing something wrong and tell them you do not approve 责备[斥责]某人pull somebody up on I felt I had to pull her up on her lateness. 我觉得，对于她迟到我必须提出批评。 → pull somebody up short at short3(7)→ See Verb table

Examples from the Corpus

pull• a train pulling 64 boxcars• She's going to have her wisdom teeth pulled.• Sampras dropped out of the tournament after pulling a calf muscle.• Crawford had been ordered to take a day's rest after pulling a leg muscle.• I pulled a muscle trying to move the piano into the apartment.• a tractor pulling a plough• The team was pulled at the last minute.• The Queen's carriage was pulled by two white horses.• Everyone took hold of the rope and pulled hard.• She was angry enough to pull her kids from the school.• He pulled her towards him and kissed her.• That bloke who keeps pulling his double set of teeth out had pinched the lot.• Marcus then undid Patrick's pyjama jacket and started to try to pull it off, then decided not to.• Bagert is expected to pull just enough votes to win.• I can hear him pulling on his goddamn cigarette.• I put my hand into my jacket pocket, felt for the pack, and pulled one out.• Pull the chair nearer to the fire.• If you can pull the paper out easily, the seals probably need replacing.• She raised the gun and pulled the trigger.• You need to pull this lever to start the machine.• The car seems to be pulling to the left.• He pulled up for the jumper and it rolled nicely in the rim.• Eventually a farmer on a tractor pulled up.• Don't start pulling yet - wait till I say go.pull something open/shut• Tim got in the car and pulled the door shut.pull a gun/knife (on somebody)• Confronting two young men outside a Vista apartment building, 18-year-old Lane pulled a gun.• The drunk one pulled a gun.• Hitchhikers pulled a gun and shot at him.• Mr Kerr had stepped in and overpowered the accused, who then had pulled a knife and stabbed him repeatedly.• He pulled a gun during a family dispute Feb. 13,1995.• Crossley's mouth dropped open as he saw the taller man pull a gun into view.• It's not every day a young woman pulls a gun on a burglar.• He then pulled a knife out from his jeans and held it to her throat.pull on/off/up/down etc• They totaled one point between them in 29 minutes, although Fowlkes did pull down four rebounds.• Luke had to pull off her hands, one by one and half carry her along the bus and down the steps.• She pulled on her towelling bathrobe and slid her feet into a pair of sandals.• It is quite legal to go out into the countryside, find a hedgehog and pull off its legs one by one.• He is now trying to pull down the house about the ears of Winchester's Tories.• On Navigator, pull down the menu marked Options, and then click on the Helpers tab.• Raider and hunter tussled, strength against strength, the one pulling up, the other down.• I think the message of this election is that the pro-family movement pulled off what it has never achieved in its history.pull a stunt/trick/joke• Then, as the United States Army neared, the well-mobilized army of Young pulled a trick.• Old Rudolf being smart enough to pull a trick like that!• Supposing Gesner pulled a trick, or she fell over.

Related topics: Physics, Cricket, Golf

pull2 ●○○ noun  1  act of moving STH 移动某物的动作 [countable] an act of using force to move something towards you or in the same direction that you are moving 拉；拔；拖 OPP push He gave her a sharp pull forward. 他猛地把她往前一拉。2  force 力 [countable usually singular]HP a strong physical force that makes things move in a particular direction 拉力，引力 the gravitational pull of the Moon 月球的引力3  attraction 吸引力 [countable usually singular]WANT the ability to attract someone or have a powerful effect on them 〔对某人的〕吸引力，影响力pull of After about a year I gave in to the pull of fatherhood. 大约一年以后，我再也抗拒不了做父亲的诱惑。4  influence 影响 [singular, uncountable] informalADVANTAGE special influence or power over other people 〔对他人的特殊〕影响力 His family’s name gives him a lot of pull in this town. 他家族的名望使他在镇上具有很大的影响力。5  climb 攀登 [singular] British EnglishCLIMB a difficult climb up a steep road 费力的攀登 It was a long pull up the hill. 登山的路又长又陡。6  muscle 肌肉 [countable usually singular] an injury to one of your muscles, caused by stretching it too much during exercise 拉伤 a groin pull 腹股沟拉伤7  smoke/drink 烟/饮料 [countable]SMOKE an act of taking the smoke from a cigarette, pipe etc into your lungs or of taking a long drink of something 深吸；大口喝pull on/at She took a long pull on her cigarette. 她深深地吸了一口烟。8  handle 把手 [countable]DH a rope or handle that you use to pull something 〔用以拉动某物的〕拉绳，把手 He popped the ring pull on another can of lager. 他又拉开一罐淡啤酒的拉环。9. cricket/golf/baseball 板球/高尔夫球/棒球 [countable]DSCDSG a way of hitting the ball in cricket, golf, or baseball so that it does not go straight, but moves to one side 向左侧[右侧]的一击10. on the pull British English informal trying to find someone who will take part in sexual activity with you 寻觅性交对象

Examples from the Corpus

pull• Another pull for ten minutes or so brought me up on to the summit, where I sat down to have my lunch.• The final pull of day is seduced away to another gathering.• She gave a gentle pull on the reins, and the horse stopped.• That door sticks a bit - give it a good pull.• Give the rope a good pull.• As they were collapsing, the gravitational pull of matter outside these regions might start them rotating slightly.• I took one last pull from the water jug.• Specifically, investors should diversify with quality stocks and continue to invest for the long pull.• The former Senator has a lot of pull with the Republicans in Congress.• The moon's pull on the Earth's oceans creates the tides.• That pull does not usually create as much immediate conflict for them.• An average student, he felt the pull and excitement of the Army, so he left college to enlist in 1942.• After about a year I gave in to the pull and discovered that fatherhood has made me a much more serious person.• I couldn't remember where the pull was to open the parachute.• The pull of the Bavarian countryside is strong.pull on/at• In his room he pulled on a dressing-gown and sat down and waited.• I can hear him pulling on his goddamn cigarette.• Their arms and legs bow inward, the result of muscles pulling on soft bones.• With reluctance she pulled on a jacket and set out for the Rectory.• Holding Michael's hand tightly, she pulled on it.• All the time Midnight was silently pulling on his white stockings and buckling his shoes.• I tell myself, as I race down the steps, pulling on my jacket.• He was pulling on the front left fender, which was smashed and rubbing against the wheel.From Longman Business Dictionarypullpull /pʊl/ verb → pull in → pull something → off → pull out → pull together→ See Verb tableOrigin pull1 Old English pullian

pull1 verb →10-19 →20-26
→THESAURUS1 →PHRASAL VERBS1pull2 nounChinese  

Corpus Business to something make hands or use to your

pull

I

pull¹ S1 W1 /pʊl/ verb1.  MOVE SOMETHING TOWARDS YOU  [intransitive and transitive] to use your hands to make something or someone move towards you or in the direction that your hands are moving
   OPP  push:
    Mom! Davey’s pulling my hair!
    pull somebody/something into/away from/over etc something
    He pulled her down into her seat.
    pull something open/shut
    She pulled open the door and hurried inside.
2.  REMOVE  [transitive] to use force to take something from the place where it is fixed or held:
    She has to have two teeth pulled.
    pull something out/off/away etc
    Vicky had pulled the arm off her doll.
3.  MAKE SOMETHING FOLLOW YOU  [transitive] to be attached to something or hold something and make it move behind you in the direction you are going:
    a tractor pulling a trailer
4.  TAKE SOMETHING OUT  [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to take something out of a bag, pocket etc with your hand:
    He pulled out his wallet and said ‘let me pay’.
    Ben pulled a pen from his pocket.
    pull a gun/knife (on somebody) (=take one out, ready to use it)
5.  CLOTHING  [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to put on or take off a piece of clothing, usually quickly
    pull on/off/up/down etc
    He pulled off his damp shirt.
6.  MOVE YOUR BODY
  a. [I, T always + adv/prep] to move your body or part of your body away from someone or something
    pull something away/free
    She tried to pull her hand free, but it was held fast.
    pull something out of/from something
    She struggled fiercely, trying to pull her arm out of his grasp.
    pull away/back
    She pulled away from him.
  b. pull yourself up/to your feet etc to hold onto something and use your strength to move your body towards it:
    Benny pulled himself up from the floor with difficulty.
7.  MUSCLE  [transitive] to injure one of your muscles by stretching it too much during physical activity
   SYN  strain:
    Paul pulled a muscle trying to lift the freezer.
8. pull strings to secretly use your influence with important people in order to get what you want or to help someone else:
    Francis pulled strings to get him out of trouble.
9. pull the/sb’s strings to control something or someone, especially when you are not the person who is supposed to be controlling them:
    It was widely believed that Montagu was secretly pulling the strings behind the Prime Minister.
10.  TRICK/CRIME  [transitive] informal to succeed in doing something illegal or dishonest or in playing a trick on someone:
    The gang have pulled another bank robbery.
    He was trying to pull a fast one (=deceive you) when he told you he’d paid.
    pull a stunt/trick/joke
    Don’t you ever pull a stunt like that again!
11. pull sb’s leg to tell someone something that is not true, as a joke:
    I haven’t won, have I? You’re pulling my leg.
12. pull the other one (it’s got bells on) British English spoken used to tell someone that you think they are joking or not telling the truth:
    Your dad’s a racing driver? Pull the other one!
13.  SWITCH  [transitive] to move a control such as a switch, lever, or trigger towards you to make a piece of equipment work:
    She raised the gun, and pulled the trigger.
14. pull the curtains/blinds to open or close curtains or blinds:
    It was already getting dark so he pulled the curtains.
15.  CROWD/VOTES ETC  [transitive] if an event, performer etc pulls crowds or a politician pulls a lot of votes, a lot of people come to see them or vote for them:
    Muhammad Ali can still pull the crowds.
16.  ATTRACT/INFLUENCE  [transitive] to attract or influence someone or their thoughts or feelings:
    The city’s reputation for a clean environment has pulled new residents from other states.
17.  SEXUALLY ATTRACT  [intransitive and transitive] British English spoken to attract someone in order to have sex with them or spend the evening with them:
    He knew he could pull any girl he wanted.
18.  STOP EVENT  [transitive] to stop a planned event from taking place:
    They pulled the concert.
19. pull sb’s licence informal to take away someone’s licence to do something, especially to drive a car, because they have done something wrong
20.  STOP A VEHICLE  [intransitive and transitive] to drive a vehicle somewhere and stop, or to make a vehicle gradually slow down and stop
    pull something into/towards/down etc something
    She pulled the car into a side street.
    The bus pulled to a halt.
21.  CAR  [intransitive] if a car pulls to the left or right as you are driving, it moves in that direction because of a problem with its machinery
22. something is like pulling teeth used to say that it is very difficult or unpleasant to persuade someone to do something:
    Getting him to do his homework is like pulling teeth.
23.  BEER  [transitive] British English to get beer out of a barrel by pulling a handle:
    The barman laughed and began to pull a couple of pints.
24. pull a punch to deliberately hit someone with less force than you could do, so that it hurts less ⇨ not pull any punches at punch²(6)
25.  CRICKET/GOLF/BASEBALL  [intransitive and transitive] to hit the ball in cricket, golf, or baseball so that it does not go straight but moves to one side
26.  ROW A BOAT  [intransitive and transitive] to make a boat move by using oars
⇨ pull/make a face at face¹(2), ⇨ pull your finger out at finger¹(12), ⇨ pull rank (on somebody) at rank¹(5), ⇨ pull the rug (out) from under sb’s feet at rug(3), ⇨ pull the plug (on something) at plug¹(5), ⇨ pull your socks up at sock¹(3), ⇨ pull your weight at weight¹(12), ⇨ pull the wool over sb’s eyes at wool(4)
     

THESAURUS

   ▪ pull to make something or someone move in the direction that your hands are moving: He pulled her towards him and kissed her. | Sam was pulling on his socks.
   ▪ tug to pull something suddenly with a short quick movement, often to get someone’s attention: ‘Look,’ he said, tugging at his brother’s sleeve. | I tugged at the drawer but it wouldn’t open.
   ▪ drag to pull something along the ground, especially because it is heavy: If we can’t lift the piano, we’ll have to drag it.
   ▪ haul to pull something big and heavy using a lot of effort, especially upwards and using a rope: They hauled their boats further up the beach. | fishermen hauling in their nets
   ▪ heave to pull or lift something very heavy, especially with one movement: He heaved the sack of sand onto his shoulder.
   ▪ draw formal to pull something or someone gently in a particular direction: Lisa reached for his hand but he drew it away.
   ▪ pull to be attached to a vehicle or piece of machinery and make it move behind you in the direction you are going: Ten dogs were pulling a sledge over the ice. | a tractor pulling a plough
   ▪ tow to pull a vehicle behind – used about a vehicle, a boat, or a horse pulling something using a rope or chain: The car in front of us was towing a caravan. | Horses were used to tow the boats along the canals.
   ▪ draw to pull a vehicle such as a carriage – used especially about horses doing this: a carriage drawn by four horses | a horse-drawn cart
     
pull ahead phrasal verb
  if one vehicle pulls ahead of another, it gets in front of it by moving faster:
    Schumacher pulled ahead of Montoya as the two drivers approached the first corner of the race.
pull apart phrasal verb
  1. pull something ↔ apart to separate something into pieces:
    Pull the meat apart with two forks.
  2. pull somebody ↔ apart to make the relationships between people in a group bad or difficult:
    His drinking pulled the family apart.
  3. pull something ↔ apart to carefully examine or criticize something:
    The selection committee pulled each proposal apart.
  4. pull somebody/something ↔ apart to separate people or animals when they are fighting:
    The fight ended only when the referee pulled the two players apart.
  5. if something pulls apart, it breaks into pieces when you pull on it
pull at/on something phrasal verb
  1. to take hold of something and pull it several times:
    Mary was pulling nervously at her hair.
  2. to take smoke from a pipe or cigarette into your lungs:
    He pulled hard on the cigarette.
  3. to take a long drink from a bottle or glass
pull away phrasal verb
  1. to start to drive away from a place where you had stopped:
    He waved as he pulled away.
  2. to move ahead of a competitor by going faster or being more successful
    pull away from
    Nkoku is pulling away from the other runners.
pull back phrasal verb
  1. to decide not to do or become involved in something
    pull back from
    In the end, he pulled back from financing the film.
  2. to get out of a bad situation or dangerous place, or to make someone else do this
    pull back from
    Many banks are pulling back from international markets.
    pull somebody ↔ back
    They are preparing to pull back their forces.
  3. pull something ↔ back British English if a team that is losing pulls back a goal or some points, it succeeds in scoring a goal or some points:
    Our play improved and we pulled back two goals.
pull down phrasal verb
  1. pull something ↔ down to destroy something or make it stop existing:
    My old school was pulled down.
  2. pull down something to earn a particular amount of money:
    Real estate stocks pulled down total returns of 35.7 percent.
  3. pull somebody down to make someone less successful, happy, or healthy:
    Her problems have really pulled her down.
  4. pull down a menu to make a computer program show you a list of the things it can do
pull for somebody/something phrasal verb
  informal to encourage a person or team to succeed:
    The crowd were pulling for me to do well.
pull in phrasal verb
  1. if a driver pulls in, they move to the side of the road and stop:
    She pulled in to let the ambulance pass.
  2. if a train pulls in, it arrives at a station
   OPP  pull out
  3. pull somebody/something ↔ in to attract business, money, people etc:
    a publicity stunt to pull in the crowds
  4. pull in something informal if you pull in a lot of money, you earn it
  5. pull somebody ↔ in if a police officer pulls someone in, they take them to a police station because they think that person may have done something wrong
pull off phrasal verb
  1. pull something ↔ off informal to succeed in doing something difficult:
    The goalkeeper pulled off six terrific saves.
  2. pull off (something) to drive a car off a road in order to stop, or to turn into a smaller road:
    We pulled off the road to get some food.
pull on something phrasal verb
  to PULL AT something
pull out phrasal verb
  1.
  a. to drive onto a road from another road or from where you have stopped:
    Don’t pull out! There’s something coming.
  b. to drive over to a different part of the road in order to get past a vehicle in front of you:
    I pulled out to overtake a bus.
  2. if a train pulls out, it leaves a station
   OPP  pull in
  3. to stop doing or being involved in something, or to make someone do this:
    McDermott pulled out with an injury at the last minute.
    pull out of
    They are trying to pull out of the agreement.
    pull somebody out of something
    He threatened to pull his son out of the team.
  4. to get out of a bad situation or dangerous place, or to make someone or something do this:
    Jim saw that the firm was going to be ruined, so he pulled out.
    pull somebody/something ↔ out
    Most of the troops have been pulled out.
    pull out of
    when the country was still pulling out of a recession ⇨ pull out all the stops at stop²(7)
pull over phrasal verb
  to drive to the side of the road and stop your car, or to make someone else do this:
    The policeman signalled to him to pull over.
    pull somebody/something ↔ over
    He pulled the car over.
    A cop pulled him over and gave him a speeding ticket.
pull (somebody) through phrasal verb
  1. to stay alive after you have been very ill or badly injured, or to help someone do this:
    His injuries are severe but he’s expected to pull through. ⇨ bring (somebody) through at bring
  2. to succeed in doing something very difficult, or to help someone to do this:
    He relied on his experience to pull him through.
pull together phrasal verb
  1. if a group of people pull together, they all work hard to achieve something:
    If we all pull together, we’ll finish on time.
  2. pull yourself together to force yourself to stop behaving in a nervous, frightened, or uncontrolled way:
    With an effort Mary pulled herself together.
  3. pull something together to improve something by organizing it more effectively:
    We need an experienced manager to pull the department together.
pull up phrasal verb
  1. to stop the vehicle that you are driving:
    He pulled up in front of the gates.
  2. pull up a chair/stool etc to get a chair etc and sit down next to someone who is already sitting
  3. pull somebody up especially British English to stop someone who is doing something wrong and tell them you do not approve
    pull somebody up on
    I felt I had to pull her up on her lateness. ⇨ pull somebody up short at short²(7)

II

pull² noun
1.  ACT OF MOVING SOMETHING  [countable] an act of using force to move something towards you or in the same direction that you are moving
   OPP  push:
    He gave her a sharp pull forward.
2.  FORCE  [countable usually singular] a strong physical force that makes things move in a particular direction:
    the gravitational pull of the moon
3.  ATTRACTION  [countable usually singular] the ability to attract someone or have a powerful effect on them
    pull of
    After about a year I gave in to the pull of fatherhood.
4.  INFLUENCE  [singular, uncountable] informal special influence or power over other people:
    His family’s name gives him a lot of pull in this town.
5.  CLIMB  [singular] British English a difficult climb up a steep road:
    It was a long pull up the hill.
6.  MUSCLE  [countable usually singular] an injury to one of your muscles, caused by stretching it too much during exercise:
    a groin pull
7.  SMOKE/DRINK  [countable] an act of taking the smoke from a cigarette, pipe etc into your lungs or of taking a long drink of something
    pull on/at
    She took a long pull on her cigarette.
8.  HANDLE  [countable] a rope or handle that you use to pull something:
    He popped the ring pull on another can of lager.
9.  CRICKET/GOLF/BASEBALL  [countable] a way of hitting the ball in cricket, golf, or baseball so that it does not go straight, but moves to one side
10. on the pull British English informal trying to find someone who will take part in sexual activity with you