A1 verb #189 가장 일반적인 2분 분량

pull

To move something toward you by using force.

Explanation at your level:

When you want to move something to you, you pull it. Imagine you have a door. You hold the handle and you pull. Now the door is open! You can pull a chair to sit. You can pull a toy. It is a very useful word for everyday things.

You use pull to move objects toward your body. For example, you pull a heavy bag behind you at the station. You can also pull a rope to lift something. Remember, it is the opposite of push. If a door says 'Pull', you must pull it toward you to enter.

The verb pull describes applying force to move an object closer. Beyond physical objects, we use it for abstract ideas. You might 'pull' a muscle while exercising, or 'pull' a prank on a friend. It is a standard verb used in many professional and social situations.

At this level, you will encounter pull in various phrasal verbs and idiomatic expressions. We talk about 'pulling off' a difficult task or 'pulling through' a tough illness. Understanding the nuance between physical movement and metaphorical success is key to sounding natural.

In advanced English, pull functions in complex social and political contexts. We discuss 'pulling the strings' of an organization or 'pulling ahead' in a race. It often implies exerting influence or overcoming significant resistance, whether physical or systemic. Mastery involves using these figurative meanings effectively.

At the mastery level, pull appears in diverse literary and technical registers. From the 'pull of gravity' in physics to the 'pull of nostalgia' in literature, the word captures the essence of attraction and tension. Its etymological history links it to the act of plucking, which informs its usage in contexts of extraction and selection.

30초 단어

  • A common verb for moving objects toward you.
  • It is the opposite of pushing.
  • Used in many idioms like 'pulling strings'.
  • Pronounced with a short 'u' sound.

When you pull something, you are applying force to make it move in your direction. Think of opening a heavy door that has a handle; you pull it toward your body to create an opening.

This verb is essential in daily life. Whether you are pulling a suitcase through an airport or pulling a weed from the garden, the core concept remains the same: drawing an object closer to you or along your path of movement.

The word pull has deep roots in the Germanic language family. It comes from the Old English word pullian, which meant to pluck, tug, or draw.

Interestingly, it doesn't have a direct cognate in many other Germanic languages, making its exact origin a bit of a mystery to etymologists. Over centuries, it evolved from a specific action of plucking feathers or wool into the general verb we use today for moving almost any object.

You will use pull in many contexts, ranging from physical tasks to abstract concepts. Common collocations include pull a door, pull a muscle, or pull together a team.

In casual conversation, we use it frequently. In formal writing, you might see it used in phrases like pulling resources or pulling ahead of the competition. It is a very versatile and high-frequency verb.

Idioms make English colorful! Here are five common ones:

  • Pull someone's leg: To tease or joke with someone.
  • Pull your weight: To do your fair share of work.
  • Pull strings: To use influence to get something done.
  • Pull yourself together: To calm down and regain control.
  • Pull the plug: To stop an activity or withdraw support.

Pull is a regular verb, so its past tense and past participle are simply pulled. It is often used with prepositions like off, out, or away.

Pronunciation is tricky because of the 'u' sound. In IPA, it is /pʊl/. It rhymes with full, bull, and wool. Be careful not to pronounce it like pool (which has a long 'oo' sound).

Fun Fact

It has no clear cognates in other Germanic languages.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /pʊl/

Short 'u' sound, lips relaxed.

US /pʊl/

Similar to UK, short vowel.

Common Errors

  • Confusing with 'pool'
  • Adding an extra syllable
  • Misplacing stress

Rhymes With

full bull wool pull full

Difficulty Rating

독해 1/5

easy

Writing 2/5

moderate

Speaking 2/5

moderate

듣기 1/5

easy

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

push move force

Learn Next

haul tug extract

고급

leverage influence exert

Grammar to Know

Phrasal Verbs

pull off

Regular Verbs

pulled

Imperative Mood

Pull the lever!

Examples by Level

1

Please pull the door.

Please move the door toward you.

Imperative form.

2

I pull the rope.

I move the rope.

Present simple.

3

Pull the chair.

Move the chair.

Simple command.

4

He pulls the toy.

He moves the toy.

Third person singular.

5

She pulls the bag.

She moves the bag.

Third person singular.

6

We pull together.

We work together.

Phrasal verb.

7

Don't pull my hair!

Do not move my hair.

Negative command.

8

Pull it here.

Move it here.

Adverb of place.

1

I pulled the handle hard.

2

Can you pull this for me?

3

They are pulling the wagon.

4

She pulled the curtain shut.

5

He pulled a book off the shelf.

6

We pulled the weeds today.

7

The car pulled away slowly.

8

Don't pull the cord.

1

The team pulled together to finish.

2

He pulled a muscle in his leg.

3

She pulled off a great victory.

4

I pulled some strings to help.

5

The train pulled into the station.

6

He pulled his weight on the project.

7

She pulled herself together after crying.

8

They pulled the plug on the project.

1

The company is pulling ahead of rivals.

2

He pulled a fast one on his boss.

3

She pulled no punches in the debate.

4

The gravity pulls the planet inward.

5

He pulled out of the competition.

6

She pulled through the surgery.

7

The news pulled at my heartstrings.

8

They pulled back the troops.

1

The candidate pulled a surprise win.

2

The magnetic field pulls the particles.

3

He pulled his thoughts together.

4

The article pulled in many readers.

5

She pulled the rug from under him.

6

The economy is pulling out of recession.

7

He pulled rank to get his way.

8

The film pulls the audience in.

1

The siren pulled the sailors to the rocks.

2

He pulled a rabbit out of a hat.

3

The narrative pulls at the fabric of society.

4

She pulled a long face at the news.

5

The gravitational pull is immense.

6

They pulled the wool over our eyes.

7

He pulled his life back on track.

8

The movement pulled support from all sides.

동의어

drag haul tug yank draw jerk

반의어

자주 쓰는 조합

pull a door
pull a muscle
pull together
pull away
pull out
pull ahead
pull strings
pull over
pull off
pull back

Idioms & Expressions

"pull someone's leg"

to joke or tease

Are you serious or just pulling my leg?

casual

"pull your weight"

do your share of work

Everyone must pull their weight.

neutral

"pull strings"

use influence

He pulled strings to get the promotion.

neutral

"pull yourself together"

regain composure

Take a breath and pull yourself together.

neutral

"pull the plug"

stop something

They pulled the plug on the show.

casual

"pull no punches"

be very direct

She pulled no punches in her critique.

formal

Easily Confused

pull vs push

they are opposites

direction of force

Push the door away; pull it toward you.

pull vs pool

similar vowel sound

long vs short vowel

I swim in the pool; I pull the rope.

pull vs haul

both mean moving

haul is for heavy loads

I pull a drawer; I haul a trailer.

pull vs tug

similar meaning

tug is short/sharp

I tugged the string once.

Sentence Patterns

A1

Subject + pull + object

I pull the door.

B1

Subject + pull + object + prep

He pulled the book off the shelf.

B1

Subject + pull + together

We pulled together as a team.

B2

Subject + pull + ahead

She pulled ahead in the race.

C1

Subject + pull + strings

He pulled strings to help.

어휘 가족

Nouns

pull the act of pulling

Verbs

pull to move by force

Adjectives

pullable can be pulled

관련

pusher opposite

How to Use It

frequency

9/10

Formality Scale

formal neutral casual slang

자주 하는 실수

Using 'pull' when you mean 'push' Push
They are opposites; check the sign on the door.
Pronouncing it like 'pool' /pʊl/
The vowel is short, not long.
Saying 'pulling to' instead of 'pulling at' Pull at
Idiomatic usage requires 'at' for tugging.
Confusing 'pull' with 'draw' Depends on context
Draw is more formal/artistic.
Using 'pull' for 'drag' in all cases Drag
Drag implies heavy, slow movement.

Tips

💡

Say It Right

Short 'u' like 'put'.

💡

Door Signs

Look for 'Pull' vs 'Push' signs.

💡

Past Tense

Just add -ed.

🌍

Idioms

Learn 'pull your weight'.

💡

Context

Group phrasal verbs together.

💡

Don't say 'pool'

Watch the vowel length.

💡

Origin

It's an old Germanic word.

💡

Action

Physically pull something while saying it.

💡

Metaphor

Use it for influence.

💡

Daily use

Practice with everyday objects.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

P-U-L-L: Please Understand, Lift Lightly.

Visual Association

A person pulling a heavy wagon.

Word Web

force movement direction opposite of push

챌린지

Try to use the word 'pull' in three different sentences today.

어원

Old English

Original meaning: To pluck or tug

문화적 맥락

None

Used universally in instructions on doors.

The song 'Pull Up' by various artists Pulling strings in political thrillers

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

at home

  • pull the curtains
  • pull the door shut
  • pull a chair up

at work

  • pull together
  • pull resources
  • pull rank

travel

  • pull a suitcase
  • pull into the station
  • pull over

sports

  • pull a muscle
  • pull ahead
  • pull back

Conversation Starters

"Have you ever had to pull strings to get something done?"

"Do you find it easy to pull yourself together after a setback?"

"What is the heaviest thing you have ever had to pull?"

"Have you ever pulled a prank on someone?"

"Do you think it's important to pull your weight in a group project?"

Journal Prompts

Describe a time you had to pull yourself together.

Write about a time you pulled off a difficult task.

Explain why teamwork is like pulling together.

Describe a situation where you had to pull away from something.

자주 묻는 질문

8 질문

Drag implies heavy, slow movement; pull is more general.

With a short 'u' sound, not 'oo'.

Yes, e.g., 'pulling someone aside'.

Yes, it is 'pulled'.

Using influence to get results.

No, it is a friendly joke.

Yes, 'a strong pull'.

Yes, 'the pull of the city'.

셀프 테스트

fill blank A1

Please ___ the door to open it.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답: pull

Pulling moves it toward you.

multiple choice A2

Which is the opposite of pull?

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답: push

Pushing is the opposite.

true false B1

To 'pull your weight' means to do your share of work.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:

It is a common idiom.

match pairs B1

Word

All matched!

These are phrasal verbs.

sentence order B2

아래 단어를 탭해서 문장을 만들어 보세요
정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:

Subject-Verb-Object order.

점수: /5

Related Content

Actions 관련 단어

abcredance

C1

엄격한 증거를 바탕으로 주장이나 프로세스의 신뢰성을 공식적으로 부여하거나 검증하는 것.

abnasccide

C1

발달의 특정 단계나 특정 조건 하에서 자연스럽게 떨어져 나가거나 잘려 나가는 경향이 있는 것을 묘사합니다.

absorb

B2

흡수하다는 스펀지가 물을 빨아들이듯 무언가를 받아들이거나, 정보를 이해하는 것을 뜻해요.

abstain

C1

To voluntarily refrain from an action or practice, especially one that is considered unhealthy or morally questionable. It is also used formally to describe the act of choosing not to cast a vote in an election or deliberation.

abvictly

C1

압도적인 힘이나 권위를 행사하여 복잡한 상황이나 분쟁을 단호하고 갑작스럽게 해결하는 것을 의미합니다.

abvitfy

C1

"abvitfy"는 기술적인 변화에 빠르게 적응하는 능력, 즉 일종의 회복력을 의미해요.

accelerate

C1

To increase the speed or rate of something, or to make a process happen sooner than expected. In technical contexts, it refers to the rate of change of velocity, while in general contexts, it often describes the speeding up of progress or development.

accept

A1

누군가 준 것을 받거나 제안을 받아들이는 거예요. 어떤 사실을 인정하거나 상황을 그대로 받아들이는 의미로도 쓰여요.

achieve

A2

열심히 노력해서 목표를 이루거나 일을 끝내는 거야. 자신의 노력으로 긍정적인 결과를 만들어낸다는 뜻이지.

acquiesce

C1

마지못해 동의하는 것을 말합니다. 항의하지 않고 받아들이는 것이며, 다른 선택지가 없을 때 사용합니다.

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