The strong undertow pulled John under the surface.
•The whirlpool nearly pulled the boat under.
2. Fig. to cause someone or something to fail. •The heavy debt load pulled Don under. He went out of business.
•The recession pulled his candy shop under.
Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.
pull the rug from under — (someone/something) to suddenly take away help or support from someone, or to suddenly do something which causes many problems for them. The school pulled the rug from under the basketball team by making them pay to practise in the school… … New idioms dictionary
pull the rug from under — phrasal : to remove support or assistance from * * * pull the rug from under ( ● pull * * * pull the rug (out) from under informal : to very suddenly take something needed or expected from (someone or something) We were ready to start work on the … Useful english dictionary
pull the rug from under someone — pull the rug from under (someone/something) to suddenly take away help or support from someone, or to suddenly do something which causes many problems for them. The school pulled the rug from under the basketball team by making them pay to… … New idioms dictionary
pull the rug from under something — pull the rug from under (someone/something) to suddenly take away help or support from someone, or to suddenly do something which causes many problems for them. The school pulled the rug from under the basketball team by making them pay to… … New idioms dictionary
pull someone's leg — verb subject to a playful hoax or joke • Syn: ↑hoax, ↑play a joke on • Derivationally related forms: ↑hoax (for: ↑hoax), ↑hoaxer (for: ↑ … Useful english dictionary
pull — pull1 [ pul ] verb *** ▸ 1 move someone/something toward you ▸ 2 remove something attached ▸ 3 move body with force ▸ 4 injure muscle ▸ 5 take gun/knife out ▸ 6 move window cover ▸ 7 make someone want to do something ▸ 8 get votes ▸ 9 suck smoke… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
pull — pull1 W1S1 [pul] v ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(move something towards you)¦ 2¦(remove)¦ 3¦(make something follow you)¦ 4¦(take something out)¦ 5¦(clothing)¦ 6¦(move your body)¦ 7¦(muscle)¦ 8 pull strings 9 pull the/somebody s strings … Dictionary of contemporary English
pull — 1 /pUl/ verb 1 MOVE STH TOWARDS YOU (I, T) to use your hands to make something move towards you or in the direction that you are moving: Help me move the piano; you push and I ll pull. | pull sth: I pulled the handle and it just snapped off! |… … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
pull — I UK [pʊl] / US verb Word forms pull : present tense I/you/we/they pull he/she/it pulls present participle pulling past tense pulled past participle pulled *** 1) [intransitive/transitive] to move someone or something towards you using your hands … English dictionary
pull — /pʊl / (say pool) verb (t) 1. to draw or haul towards oneself or itself, in a particular direction, or into a particular position: to pull a sledge up a hill. 2. to draw or tug at with force: to pull a person s hair. 3. to draw, rend, or tear… …
pull — {{11}}pull (n.) personal or private influence, 1889, Amer.Eng., from PULL (Cf. pull) (v.). {{12}}pull (v.) O.E. pullian to pluck or draw out, of unknown origin, perhaps related to Low Ger. pulen remove the shell or husk. Original sense preserved… … Etymology dictionary
