plane.) Let’s pull chocks and get out of
here.pull down an amount of moneytv. to
earn a stated amount of money. (An
amount of moneyis expressed as a figure
or other indication of an actual amount.)
She pulls down about $40,000 a year.
They pull down pretty good salaries.
pull jivetv. to drink liquor. (See also jive.)
Let’s go pull jive for a while. Don’t you
ever do anything but pull jive?
pull one’s belt in (a notch)Go to take
one’s belt in (a notch).
pull oneself offGo to beat off.
pull one’s pudGo to beat the dummy.
pull one’s punches 1. tv. to pull back dur-
ing a boxing punch just before the full
force of a blow is felt; to land lighter
blows than normal upon an opponent.
(Boxing and related sports.) The boxer
started pulling his punches, and the ref
ended the fight. He got fined for pulling
his punches. 2. tv. to hold back in one’s
criticism; to attenuate the intensity of
one’s remarks. (Also with any in the neg-
ative.) I won’t pull my punches with
you. This is lousy. He never pulls any
punches. He always talks straight.
pull one’s wireGo to beat the dummy.
pull out all the stopstv. to use everything
available; to not hold back. (Refers to
pulling out all of the stops on an organ
so that it will sound as loud as possible.)
Then the mayor decided to pull out all
the stops. Don’t pull out all the stops in
the first round. Wait till he’s tired in the
third and clobber him good.
pull someone’s chainGo to yank some-
one’s chain.
pull someone’s legtv. to kid someone; to
tease someone. They’re just pulling
your leg. Relax! Stop it! I don’t believe
you! You’re pulling my leg.
pull something offtv. to make something
happen. I didn’t think he could pull it
off.TIt takes a lot of skill to pull off some-
thing like that.
pull the plug (on someone or some-
thing)tv. to put an end to someone or
something as a problem; to defuse a
problem caused by someone or some-
thing. (As if one were disconnecting an
electrical appliance.) It’s time to pull
the plug on this problem. I’ve heard
enough from Mr. Jones. It’s time to pull the
plug on him.pummelled mod. alcohol intoxicated.
(Collegiate.) Can you imagine getting
pummeled on peppermint schnapps?
They get pummeled every Friday night.pump 1. tv. to press someone for an answer
or information. Pump him until he
talks. Don’t pump me! I will tell you
nothing! 2. n. the heart. (See also ticker.)
He has the pump of a forty-year-old.
My pump’s getting sort of weak. 3. n. a
pumped up muscle. (Bodybuilding.)
Look at the size of that pump. He’s tired
and can’t quite make a pump.pumped 1. mod. pregnant; impregnated.
(Crude.) She was so pumped, she was
out to here. Look at her! She’s pumped
and looks due any minute. 2. Go to
pumped (up).pumped (up)mod. excited; physically and
mentally ready. (Sports.) The team is
really pumped up for Friday’s game. She
really plays well when she’s pumped!pump ironGo to pump (some) iron.pump ship 1. tv. to urinate. (Crude. From
an expression meaning to pump the bilge
water from a ship.) He stopped and
pumped ship right in the alley. I’ll be
with you after I pump ship. 2. tv. to empty
one’s stomach; to vomit. (Crude. Less
well known than the previous sense.)
After I pumped ship, I felt better. Oh,
man! I think I gotta pump ship!pump (some) irontv. to lift weights.
Andy went down to the gym to pump some
iron. Mary’s hobbies are pumping iron
and running.pump (someone) uptv. & in. to excite
someone; to make someone enthusiastic.
The coach gave a pep talk to pump thepump (someone) up