a cord, handle, or knob, connecting with a bell or bell wire, and which will ring the bell when pulled. Aytoun.
Webster 1913
cost-pull inflation
noun inflation caused by an increase in the costs of production
WordNet
Dead pulled wool
wool pulled from a carcass.
Webster 1913
demand-pull inflation
noun inflation caused by an increase in demand or in the supply of money
WordNet
leg-pull
noun as a joke: trying to make somebody believe something that is not true
leg-pull.
WordNet
leg-pulling
noun as a joke: trying to make somebody believe something that is not true
leg-pull.
WordNet
nail pulling
noun a form of torture in which the fingernails or toenails are removed
nail removal.
WordNet
pull a face
verb contort the face to indicate a certain mental or emotional state
make a face; grimace.
He grimaced when he saw the amount of homework he had to do
WordNet
pull a fast one on
verb deceive somebody
play tricks; flim-flam; play a joke on; fox; trick; play a trick on; fob.
We tricked the teacher into thinking that class would be cancelled next week
WordNet
pull ahead
verb obtain advantages, such as points, etc.
make headway; advance; gain ground; get ahead; win; gain.
The home team was gaining ground
After defeating the Knicks, the Blazers pulled ahead of the Lakers in the battle for the number-one playoff berth in the Western Conference
WordNet
pull along
verb pull along heavily, like a heavy load against a resistance
schlep; shlep.
Can you shlep this bag of potatoes upstairs?
She pulled along a large trunk
WordNet
pull at
verb pluck or pull at with the fingers
pick at; pluck at.
She picked nervously at the buttons of her blouse
WordNet
pull away
verb pull back or move away or backward
retire; recede; move back; withdraw; pull away; draw back; retreat.
The enemy withdrew
The limo pulled away from the curb
WordNet
pull back
verb pull back or move away or backward
retire; recede; move back; withdraw; pull away; draw back; retreat.
The enemy withdrew
The limo pulled away from the curb
verb use a surgical instrument to hold open (the edges of a wound or an organ)
retract; draw back.
verb move to a rearward position; pull towards the back
Pull back your arms!
verb stretch back a bowstring (on an archer's bow)
draw.
The archers were drawing their bows
verb make a retreat from an earlier commitment or activity
back away; back out; crawfish; pull back; crawfish out; withdraw; retreat.
We'll have to crawfish out from meeting with him
He backed out of his earlier promise
The aggressive investment company pulled in its horns
WordNet
pull chain
noun a chain (usually with a handle at the end) that is pulled in order to operate some mechanism (e.g. to flush a toilet)
WordNet
pull down
verb tear down so as to make flat with the ground
rase; level; take down; dismantle; tear down; raze.
The building was levelled
verb cause to come or go down
down; knock down; push down; cut down.
The policeman downed the heavily armed suspect
The mugger knocked down the old lady after she refused to hand over her wallet
WordNet
pull in
verb direct toward itself or oneself by means of some psychological power or physical attributes
pull; draw in; attract; draw.
Her good looks attract the stares of many men
The ad pulled in many potential customers
This pianist pulls huge crowds
The store owner was happy that the ad drew in many new customers
verb earn on some commercial or business transaction; earn as salary or wages
earn; bring in; clear; take in; gain; realise; realize; make.
How much do you make a month in your new job?
She earns a lot in her new job
this merger brought in lots of money
He clears $5,000 each month
verb of trains; move into (a station)
get in; draw in; move in.
The bullet train drew into Tokyo Station
verb get or bring together
collect.
accumulate evidence
WordNet
pull in one's horns
verb make a retreat from an earlier commitment or activity
back away; back out; crawfish; pull back; crawfish out; withdraw; retreat.
We'll have to crawfish out from meeting with him
He backed out of his earlier promise
The aggressive investment company pulled in its horns
WordNet
pull off
verb pull or pull out sharply
tweak; pick off; pluck.
pluck the flowers off the bush
verb cause to withdraw
We pulled this firm off the project because they overcharged
verb be successful; achieve a goal
manage; negociate; bring off; carry off.
She succeeded in persuading us all
I managed to carry the box upstairs
She pulled it off, even though we never thought her capable of it
The pianist negociated the difficult runs
verb remove by drawing or pulling
draw away; draw off.
She placed the tray down and drew off the cloth
draw away the cloth that is covering the cheese
WordNet
pull one's weight
verb do one's share in a common task
Bob has never pulled his weight, and we all have to work harder to make up for his laziness
WordNet
pull out
verb move out or away
get out.
The troops pulled out after the cease-fire
verb bring, take, or pull out of a container or from under a cover
take out; pull; draw; get out.
draw a weapon
pull out a gun
The mugger pulled a knife on his victim
verb remove, usually with some force or effort; also used in an abstract sense
take out; pull; pull out; draw out; extract.
pull weeds
extract a bad tooth
take out a splinter
extract information from the telegram
verb remove oneself from an obligation
back down; back off; bow out; chicken out.
He bowed out when he heard how much work was involved
WordNet
pull out all the stops
verb use all resources available
The organizers pulled out all the stops for the centennial meeting
WordNet
pull over
verb steer a vehicle to the side of the road
The car pulled over when the ambulance approached at high speed
WordNet
pull rank
to insist on one's own prerogative or plan of action, by right of a higher rank than that of one suggesting a different plan
Webster 1913
pull round
verb continue in existence after (an adversity, etc.)
survive; pull round; make it; come through.
He survived the cancer against all odds
WordNet
pull someone's leg
verb subject to a playful hoax or joke
hoax; play a joke on.
WordNet
pull strings
verb influence or control shrewdly or deviously
pull strings; manipulate.
He manipulated public opinion in his favor
WordNet
pull the leg of
verb tell false information to for fun
kid.
Are you pulling my leg?
WordNet
pull the plug
verb prevent from happening or continuing
The government pulled the plug on spending
WordNet
pull the wool over someone's eyes
verb conceal one's true motives from especially by elaborately feigning good intentions so as to gain an end
lead by the nose; play false; snow; hoodwink; bamboozle.
He bamboozled his professors into thinking that he knew the subject well
WordNet
pull through
verb continue in existence after (an adversity, etc.)
survive; pull round; make it; come through.
He survived the cancer against all odds
verb bring into safety
bring through; save; carry through.
We pulled through most of the victims of the bomb attack
WordNet
pull together
verb assemble or get together
collect; gather; garner.
gather some stones
pull your thoughts together
WordNet
pull up
verb come to a halt after driving somewhere
draw up; haul up.
The Rolls pulled up on pour front lawn
The chauffeur hauled up in front of us
verb straighten oneself
draw up; straighten up.
He drew himself up when he talked to his superior
verb cause (a vehicle) to stop
draw up.
He pulled up the car in front of the hotel
verb remove, usually with some force or effort; also used in an abstract sense
take out; pull; pull out; draw out; extract.
pull weeds
extract a bad tooth
take out a splinter
extract information from the telegram
WordNet
pull up short
verb stop abruptly
The police car pulled up short and then turned around fast
WordNet
pull up stakes
verb remove oneself from an association with or participation in
leave; depart.
She wants to leave
The teenager left home
She left her position with the Red Cross
He left the Senate after two terms
after 20 years with the same company, she pulled up stakes
WordNet
pull wires
verb influence or control shrewdly or deviously
pull strings; manipulate.
He manipulated public opinion in his favor
WordNet
pull-in
noun a roadside cafe especially for lorry drivers
pull-in.
WordNet
pull-off
noun designated paved area beside a main road where cars can stop temporarily
rest stop; lay-by; rest area; layby.
WordNet
pull-through
noun cleaning implement consisting of an oily rag attached by a cord to a weight; is pulled through the barrel of a rifle or handgun to clean it
WordNet
pull-up
noun a roadside cafe especially for lorry drivers
pull-in.
noun an arm exercise performed by pulling yourself up on a horizontal bar until your chin is level with the bar
chin-up.
WordNet
pulling out
noun a method of birth control in which coitus is initiated but the penis is deliberately withdrawn before ejaculation
withdrawal method; coitus interruptus; onanism; withdrawal.
WordNet
To pull a finch
to swindle an ignorant or unsuspecting person. Obs. "Privily a finch eke could he pull."
Webster 1913
To pull and haul
to draw hither and thither. " Both are equally pulled and hauled to do that which they are unable to do. " South.
Webster 1913
To pull apart
to become separated by pulling; as, a rope will pull apart.
Webster 1913
To pull down
to demolish; to destroy; to degrade; as, to pull down a house. " In political affairs, as well as mechanical, it is easier to pull down than build up." Howell. " To raise the wretched, and pull down the proud." Roscommon.
Webster 1913
To pull off
take or draw off. (b) to perform (something illegal or unethical); as, to pull off a heist [robbery]. (c) to accomplish, against the odds.
Webster 1913
To pull through
to come successfully to the end of a difficult undertaking, a dangerous sickness, or the like.
Webster 1913
To pull up
to draw the reins; to stop; to halt.
Webster 1913
wire-pulling
Wire"-pull`ing noun
Definitions
The act of pulling the wires, as of a puppet; hence, secret influence or management, especially in politics; intrigue.
