pull
A1Neutral; common in all registers, from informal to formal.
Definition
Meaning
To apply force to move something towards oneself or in the direction of the applied force.
To exert influence, support, or attraction; to remove by force; to strain a muscle; to perform a specific action, often in compound phrases (e.g., pull a trick).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a force towards the source of motion. Often paired with specific prepositions (e.g., pull on, pull off, pull out) which drastically change meaning. Contrasts fundamentally with 'push'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Generally none in core meaning. Some compound nouns differ: 'pull-in' (UK: roadside cafe) vs. 'pull-off' (US: roadside rest area). The phrasal verb inventory is largely identical.
Connotations
Identical.
Frequency
Equally frequent and fundamental in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[NP] pull [NP][NP] pull [NP] + ADJ (e.g., pull it tight)[NP] pull [NP] + PP (e.g., pull it towards you)[NP] pull on/at [NP]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “pull someone's leg”
- “pull your weight”
- “pull yourself together”
- “pull out all the stops”
- “pull the wool over someone's eyes”
- “like pulling teeth”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
To withdraw from a deal ('pull out of an investment'), or to attract customers ('pull in a crowd').
Academic
Used in physics to describe force vectors; in social sciences, to describe influencing factors ('the pull of social norms').
Everyday
The most common context: opening doors, moving objects, straining muscles.
Technical
In computing: to retrieve data from a server ('git pull'). In engineering: tensile force.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Could you pull the curtains, please? It's getting dark.
- He pulled a hamstring during the football match.
- The government is trying to pull the economy out of recession.
- Don't pull on the door; it says 'Push'.
American English
- Pull the lever to start the machine.
- She pulled her car into the driveway.
- The comedian can really pull a crowd.
- He pulled a muscle lifting that heavy box.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverbial form. Used in compounds like 'pull-start' (engine).
American English
- No standard adverbial form. Used in compounds like 'pull-down' (menu).
adjective
British English
- The pull cord for the light is broken.
- It's a pull tab on the can, not a push-button.
American English
- The door has a pull handle.
- Use the pull toy for the puppy.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Pull the door to close it.
- The child pulled the toy across the floor.
- I can't pull this box; it's too heavy.
- She pulled the plug out of the bath.
- He pulled a muscle playing tennis.
- The train slowly pulled out of the station.
- The new advertising campaign is expected to pull in younger customers.
- They decided to pull the product from the market after the safety concerns.
- You need to pull your weight in this group project.
- The charismatic leader managed to pull the disparate factions of the party together.
- The film's controversial subject matter pulled no punches in its criticism.
- Investors began to pull their money out of the volatile market.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a BULL needing to be PULLed by a rope. Both words rhyme and share the 'ull' spelling pattern.
Conceptual Metaphor
INFLUENCE IS PHYSICAL ATTRACTION (e.g., 'The idea pulled me in'); SUCCESS IS ATTRACTING ('The film is pulling huge audiences'); STOPPING IS PULLING BACK ('He pulled the brakes on the project').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'push' (толкать). 'Pull' is тянуть, тащить.
- The idiom 'pull oneself together' means взять себя в руки, not physically pulling.
- In tech, 'pull request' is запрос на принятие изменений, not just a request to pull something.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'pull' for 'pick' (e.g., *'I pulled a flower' instead of 'I picked a flower').
- Confusing 'pull out' (remove, withdraw) with 'pull off' (succeed in doing something difficult).
- Incorrect preposition: *'pull your socks' instead of 'pull up your socks'.
Practice
Quiz
What does the idiom 'pull someone's leg' mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a regular verb: pull, pulled, pulled.
'Pull' is general. 'Drag' implies pulling something heavy along a surface, often with resistance or difficulty.
Yes, intransitively: e.g., 'The car pulled to the left.' or 'She pulled on the rope.'
It is an informal idiom meaning to deceive or trick someone.