pull
verb [ T ]
uk/pʊl/ usto stop providing something or take something away from someone or something:
A major partner has threatened to pull all sponsorship.
The first step is to pull the advertising for the defective product.
pull sth from/out of sth Candies with more than .2 parts per million of lead would be pulled from stores.
Elderly savers began to pull their money out of the accounts.
to attract interest from customers:
If it doesn't pull big audiences, what's the point of the festival?
A programme with a few star names is sure to pull the crowds.
pull sth/a rabbit out of the hat informal
to do something unexpected that improves a difficult situation:
If they want to survive the crisis, they'll need to pull something out of the hat pretty quickly.
The company's in real trouble, and they don't seem to have any rabbits to pull out of the hat.
pull the plug on sth informal
to stop an activity from continuing:
If costs rise any higher, we'll have to pull the plug on the whole project.
pull strings
to use your personal influence to make things happen:
She may be retired, but she can still pull strings in the city.
Don't you know anyone who can pull a few strings for us?
pull the strings
to be the person who is in control of things:
He's decided to put in the money himself, rather than let the investors pull the strings
Don't ask me. I'm not the one who's pulling the strings.
pull your weight
to work as hard as other people or as hard as expected and needed:
Everyone is expected to pull their weight on this project.
Phrasal verbs
pull ahead
pull back
pull sth down
pull down sth
pull sb/sth in
pull sth off
pull out
pull sb/sth out
pull together
pull sth together
pull
noun
uk/pʊl/ us [ U ]
influence or power over other people:
These people have a lot of pull in government circles.
I'm afraid I don't have that much pull with the management.
[ S ]
the ability to attract people:
Money has a strong pull for institutions and individuals alike.
He tried teaching, but the pull of scientific discovery was greater than that of the academic world.