frequently_asked_questions_files/Oxford Thesaurus.pdf

take into custody, Colloq pinch, nab, collar, nail, Brit nick,
Slang bust: The cops pulled him in for possession of narcotics.
12 pull off. a detach, rip or tear off, separate, wrench off or
away: When he was cashiered from the army, they pulled off all
his insignia and medals. b accomplish, do, complete, succeed,
carry out, bring off, manage, perform: Three men pulled off the
robbery in broad daylight. 13 pull oneself together. recover,
get a grip on oneself, get over it, recuperate, Colloq snap out
of it, buck up: Try to pull yourself together and stop crying.
14 pull out. a uproot, extract, withdraw: In the ensuing
scrap, someone tried to pull out his hair. Two survivors were
pulled out of the rubble. b withdraw, retreat, beat a retreat,
recede, draw back, leave, depart, go or run away or off,
evacuate, Colloq beat it, do a bunk, Brit do a moonlight flit:
The artillery unit pulled out yesterday. c leave, go, depart,
take off: When that train pulls out, I want you on it! d
withdraw, quit, abandon, resign (from), give up, relinquish:
You can still pull out of the deal if you want to. 15 pull
someone's leg. tease, chaff, rib, have on, rag, twit, poke fun
at, make fun of, hoodwink, ridicule: He said that I'd just
eaten a fly, but he was pulling my leg. 16 pull strings. use
influence or connections, US use pull, pull wires: His uncle
pulled strings to get him the job. 17 pull through. survive,
recover, improve, get better, get over (it or some affliction),
rally; live: Murphy was at death's door, but luckily he pulled
through. 18 pull up. a stop, halt, come to a standstill: We
pulled up in a lay-by for a few minutes' rest. b uproot, root
out, dig out, deracinate, eradicate: Your dog has pulled up all
the flowers in my garden. c draw even or level with, come up
to, reach: On the fifth lap, Manson pulled up to, then passed
Sabbatini.
--n. 19 draw, tug; yank, jerk: Give the bell-rope a strong,
steady pull, and try not to yank it suddenly. 20 attraction,
draw, magnetism, appeal, drawing or pulling power,
seductiveness, seduction, lure: The pull that golf has on
certain people is hard to explain. 21 influence, authority,
connections, prestige, weight, leverage, Colloq clout, muscle:
You'd better treat her nicely, for she has a lot of pull with
the boss. 22 puff, draw, inhalation, Colloq drag: He took a
long, meditative pull on his cigarette and blew some smoke
rings.