- pull someone up short
- pull someone up shortto cause someone to stop short. •
My scream pulled him up short.
•The sudden thought that everything might not be all right pulled Tom up short.
Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.
pull someone up short
Look at other dictionaries:
pull someone up short — pull (someone) up short if something pulls someone up short, they suddenly stop what they are doing, especially because they are very surprised. Seeing her picture in the paper pulled me up short … New idioms dictionary
bring (or pull) someone up short — cause someone to stop or pause abruptly. → short … English new terms dictionary
bring someone up short — bring (or pull) someone up short make someone check or pause abruptly he was entering the office when he was brought up short by the sight of John … Useful english dictionary
pull someone up — REPRIMAND, rebuke, scold, chide, chastise, upbraid, berate, reprove, reproach, censure, take to task, admonish, lecture, read someone the Riot Act, haul over the coals; informal tell off, bawl out, dress down, give someone hell, give someone an… … Useful english dictionary
pull up short — pull (someone) up short if something pulls someone up short, they suddenly stop what they are doing, especially because they are very surprised. Seeing her picture in the paper pulled me up short … New idioms 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 up — phrasal verb Word forms pull up : present tense I/you/we/they pull up he/she/it pulls up present participle pulling up past tense pulled up past participle pulled up 1) [intransitive] if a vehicle or driver pulls up, they stop Their taxi pulled… … English dictionary
short — adjective 1》 of a small length or duration. ↘(of a ball in sport) travelling only a small distance before bouncing. 2》 relatively small in extent. 3》 (of a person) small in height. 4》 (short of/on) not having enough of (something); lacking or … English new terms dictionary
pull up short — American pull (someone) up short if something pulls someone up short, they suddenly stop what they are doing, especially because they are very surprised. Carol pulled up short when she realized Jack could hear what she was saying … New idioms dictionary
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 — 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
