pull
Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Medical, Financial, Acronyms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
pull
1. noun A long sip or swig, especially one of alcohol from a bottle or flask. The old man took a long pull of whiskey, then flashed a toothless grin and began laughing again.
2. noun An inhalation or mouthful of smoke. I know I quit smoking, but let me just get a quick pull off your cigarette.
3. verb To take a long sip or swig, especially one of alcohol from a bottle or flask. He pulled long and hard from the bottle of hooch.
4. verb To inhale or take in a mouthful of smoke. I know I quit smoking, but let me just pull off your cigarette real quick.
5. verb To act as if one is punching someone, without making physical contact. (Short for "pull one's punches.") How dare you—I have never pulled during a fight in my entire career!
pull (one's) punches
1. To act as if one is punching someone, without making any or much physical contact. How dare you—I have never pulled my punches during a fight in my entire career! I know you're trying to make the scene realistic, but please pull your punches next time!
2. By extension, to restrain one's commentary or criticism to avoid offending or upsetting someone. (Usually used in the negative.) I want your honest opinion of my story—don't pull your punches! Wow, your aunt really doesn't pull her punches. Is my sweatshirt really that ugly?
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
pull
1. n. a drink; a swig; a drink from a flask. He took another pull and kept on talking.
2. tv. to take a drink or a mouthful of liquor from a bottle or other container. He pulled a slug from the bottle.
3. n. a mouthful of smoke from a cigarette; a drag on a cigarette. A couple of pulls and she crushed out the cigarette.
4. tv. to smoke a cigarette. He pulled a long filter job and then went back to work.
5. in. to pull one’s punches. (Martial arts.) If you pull during a fight, you’re through as a fighter.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
pull
/yank (someone's) chain To take unfair advantage of someone; deceive or manipulate someone.
pull
strings/wires Informal To exert secret control or influence in order to gain an end.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
- a crow to pull
- a long face, to wear/draw/pull
- be (just) pulling (one's) leg
- be like pulling teeth
- be on the pull
- be pulled down a notch (or two)
- be pulled down a peg (or two)
- be tearing your hair out
- beat off
- beat the dummy
- bring (one) up short
- bring/pull somebody up short
- carry weight
- drag
- drag (oneself) up by (one's) (own) bootstraps
- drag/pull yourself up by your bootstraps
- draw a long face
- draw in (one's) horns
- draw in horns and pull in horns
- draw/pull in one's horns, to
- draw/pull in your horns
- fish up out of
- get/pull your finger out
- haul in (one's) horns
- haul up
- have a crow to pull (with one)
- have pull with
- have pull with (someone)
- it ain't the whistle that pulls the train
- it isn't the whistle that pulls the train
- like pulling teeth
- look as if (one) has been pulled through a hedge backward(s)
- look like (one) has been pulled through a hedge backward(s)
- make a face
- make a face (at someone)
- make faces (at someone)
- not pull (one's) punches
- not pull (one's) weight
- not pull any punches
- not pull your punches
- on the pull
- out of hands
- pick (something) to bits
- pick, pull, etc. somebody/something to bits/pieces
- pull
- pull (one) into (some place or thing)
- pull (one) off the fence
- pull (one) off to one side
- pull (one) off to the side
- pull (one) through (something)
- pull (one) up on (something)
- pull (one) up short
- pull (one) up with a start
- pull (one's) belt in (a notch (or two))
- pull (one's) chain
- pull (one's) chestnuts out of the fire
- pull (one's) coattails
- pull (one's) finger out
- pull (one's) hair out
- pull (one's) head in
- pull (one's) leg
- pull (one's) own (little red) wagon
- pull (one's) own weight
- pull (one's) pisser
- pull (one's) pud
- pull (one's) punches
- pull (one's) socks up
- pull (one's) weight
- pull (one's) wire
- pull (oneself) together
- pull (oneself) up by (one's) (own) bootstraps
- pull (oneself) up by the bootstraps
- pull (some/a few) strings
- pull (some/a few) wires
- pull (someone or something) back from the brink (of something)
- pull (someone or something) by (something)
- pull (someone or something) out of a hat
- pull (someone or something) out of the fire
- pull (someone or something) toward (someone, something, or oneself)
- pull (someone or something) under
- pull (someone) down a notch (or two)
- pull (someone) down a peg (or two)
- pull (someone's) bacon out of the fire
- pull (something) down over (someone or something)
- pull (something) out of (one's) hat
- pull (something) out of the bag
- pull (something) out of the/thin air
- pull (something) to bits
- pull (something) to pieces
- pull (up) chocks
- pull a cork
- pull a crow with (one)
- pull a Daniel Boone
- pull a disappearing act
- pull a face (at someone)
- pull a fast one
- pull a fast one (on someone)
- pull a fast one, to
- pull a fastie (on someone)
- pull a gun
- pull a gun on (one)
- pull a hoax (on someone)
- pull a Houdini (act)
- pull a job
- pull a knife
- pull a knife on (one)
- pull a long face
- pull a muscle
- pull a prank (on someone)
- pull a rabbit out of (one's)/the hat
- pull a rabbit out of a hat
- pull a rabbit out of a hat, to
- pull a rabbit out of the hat
- pull a stroke
- pull a stunt
- pull a stunt (on someone)
- pull a train
- pull a trick (on someone)
- pull a U-ie
- pull a vanishing act
- pull about
- pull ahead
- pull ahead (of someone or something)
- pull all the stops out
- pull along
- pull alongside
- pull alongside (someone or something)
- pull an all-nighter
- pull an attitude
- pull an attitude (with one)
- pull apart
- pull around
- pull around to
- pull around to (something or some place)
- pull aside
- pull at
- pull away
- pull away from
- pull away from (someone or something)
- pull away from the pack
- pull back
- pull back the curtain
- pull back the curtain on (someone)
- pull back the curtain on (something)
- pull by
- pull caps
- pull chocks
- pull double duty
- pull down
- pull down an amount of money
- pull down over
- pull faces (at someone)
- pull for
- pull for (someone or something)
- pull in
- pull in (one's) belt (a notch (or two))
- pull in (one's) ears
- pull in (one's) horns
- pull in ears
- pull in front (of someone or something)
- pull in front of
- pull in one's horns
- pull in the reins
- pull in your horns
- pull in(to) (some place)
- pull into
- pull into a place
- pull it out of the hat
- pull it together
- pull jive
- pull leg
- pull my finger
- pull no punches
- pull no punches, to
- pull off
- pull off a/the hat trick
- pull off to the side
- pull on
- pull on (one's)/the wobbly boot(s)
- pull one out of the hat
- pull one over on
- pull one over on (one)
- pull one's (own) weight, to
- pull one's belt in
- pull one's belt in a notch
- pull one's pud
- pull one's punches
- pull one's weight
- pull one's wire
- pull oneself off
- pull oneself together
- pull oneself together, to
- pull oneself up by bootstraps
- pull oneself up by the bootstraps
- pull or teeth
- pull out
- pull out all the stops
- pull out all the stops, to
- pull out of
- pull out of a hat
- pull out of the fire
- pull over
- pull punches
- pull rank
- pull rank (on one)
- pull rank, to
- pull round
- pull somebody's leg
- pull someone's chain
- pull someone's chestnuts out of the fire
- pull someone's leg
- pull someone's leg, to
- pull someone's pisser
- pull something
- pull something off
- pull something/a rabbit out of the hat
- pull strings
- pull strings, to
- pull teeth
- pull the carpet (out) from under (one's) feet
- pull the carpet/rug out from under somebody's feet
- pull the chestnuts out of the fire
- pull the chestnuts out of the fire, to
- pull the other leg (it's got bells on)!
- pull the other one
- Pull the other one(, it's got bells on)!
- pull the pin
- pull the plug
- pull the plug (on someone or something)
- pull the plug on
- pull the plug on someone/something
- pull the plug on something
- pull the rug
- pull the rug (out) from under (someone)
- pull the rug (out) from under (someone's) feet
- pull the rug from under
- pull the rug from under someone/something
- pull the rug out
- pull the rug out (from (under) one)
- pull the rug out from under
- pull the rug out from under (someone), to
- pull the string
- pull the strings
- pull the trigger (on something)
- pull the wool over (one's) eyes
- pull the wool over eyes
- pull the wool over somebody's eyes
- pull the wool over someone's eyes
- pull the wool over someone's eyes, to
- pull through
- pull to
- pull to pieces
- pull together
- pull toward oneself
- pull under
- pull up
- pull up (one's) socks
- pull up a chair
- pull up a floor
- pull up along (something)
- pull up alongside (someone or something)
- pull up short
- pull up stakes
- pull up stakes, to
- pull up stumps
- pull up to
- pull up to (someone or something)
- pull weight
- pull your finger out
- pull your punches
- pull your socks up
- pull your weight
- pull yourself together
- pull yourself up by your bootstraps
- pull yourself up by your own bootstraps
- pull/make faces/a face
- pulling power
- stop pulling my leg
- take belt in
- take one's belt in a notch
- tear/tug/pull at/on (one's)/the heartstrings
- the whistle doesn't pull the train
- wear a long face
- yank someone's chain
- you're pulling my leg