pull // verb, noun

■ verb [+ obj]

1

to cancel an event; to stop showing an advertisement, etc:

The company decided to pull the ad following complaints.

2

to attract the interest or support of sb/sth:

The show pulled 6.3 million viewers.

The special offers were pulling in shoppers.

IDIOMS

pull the plug on sth/sb (informal)

to put an end to sb's project, a plan, etc:

The company decided to pull the plug on its online store.

pull sth/a rabbit out of the hat (informal)

to suddenly produce sth as a solution to a problem

pull strings (for sb) (AmE pull wires) (informal)

to use your influence in order to get an advantage for sb:

They say his father pulled strings for him.

pull the strings

to control events or the actions of other people:

Although the founder of the company has retired, he is still pulling the strings.

pull your weight

to work as hard as everyone else in a job, an activity, etc:

Some members of the team have not been pulling their weight.

pull wires (AmE) (informal)

= PULL STRINGS (FOR SB)

PHRASAL VERBS

pull ahead (of sb/sth) :

In terms of market share, Japanese firms are pulling ahead.

pull back (from sth)

to decide not to do sth that you were intending to do, because of possible problems:

Since the scandal, the company has pulled back from aggressive marketing.

pull sth in/down

to earn the large amount of money mentioned:

EMC's core software business pulled in $351 million last year.

pull sth off (informal)

to succeed in doing sth difficult:

We managed to pull off the deal.

pull out (of sth)

to move away from sth or stop being involved in it:

The project became so expensive that we had to pull out.

SYN WITHDRAW

pull together

to act, work, etc. together with other people in an organized way:

If we pull together, we can meet this deadline.

■ noun

1 [C, usually sing.]

the fact of sth attracting you or having a strong effect on you:

The show is not the pull it once was.

The pull of independence is persuading more and more people to go freelance.

2 [U]

power and influence over other people:

people who have a lot of pull with the media

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