Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц

[pull in one’s horns] or [draw in one’s horns] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To reduce your boasts; calm down from a quarrel; back down on a promise. •/He said he could beat any man there single-handed, but he pulled in his horns when Jack came forward./ 2. To cut back from one’s usual way of living; reduce spending or activities; save. •/After the business failed, Father had to pull in his horns./ •/As one advances in years, it is prudent to pull in one’s horns more and more as to physical activity./

[pull off]{v.}, {informal} To succeed in (something thought difficult or impossible); do. •/Ben Hogan pulled off the impossible by winning three golf tournaments in one year./ •/The bandits pulled off a daring bank robbery./ Compare: PUT ACROSS(2).

[pull one’s chestnuts out of the fire] To do someone else a great favor which they don’t really deserve, doing oneself a disfavor in the process. •/Small countries often have to pull the chestnuts out of the fire for their more powerful neighbors./

[pull oneself together]{v. phr.} To become calm after being excited or disturbed; recover self-command; control yourself. •/It had been a disturbing moment, but he was able to pull himself together./

[pull oneself up by the bootstraps] or [pull oneself up by one’s own bootstraps] {adv. phr.} To succeed without help; succeed by your own efforts. •/He had to pull himself up by the bootstraps./

[pull one’s leg]{v. phr.}, {informal} To get someone to accept a ridiculous story as true; fool someone with a humorous account of something; trick. •/For a moment, I actually believed that his wife had royal blood. Then I realized he was pulling my leg./ •/Western cowboys loved to pull a stranger’s leg./ Compare: STRING ALONG. — [leg-pulling] {n.} •/Strangers were often fooled by the cowboys' leg-pulling./

[pull one’s punches]{v. phr.}, {informal} 1. Not to hit as hard as you can. •/Jimmy pulled his punches and let Paul win the boxing match./ 2. To hide unpleasant facts or make them seem good. — Usually used in the negative. •/The mayor spoke bluntly; he didn’t pull any punches./ Contrast: STRAIGHT PROM THE SHOULDER.

[pull one’s teeth]{v. phr.} To take power away from; make powerless. •/The general pulled the teeth of the rebel army by blocking its ammunition supply line./ •/The student government council was so irresponsible that the principal pulled its teeth./

[pull one’s weight]{v. phr.} To do your full share of work; do your part. •/In a small shop, it is important that each man pull his weight./ •/When Mother was sick in the hospital, Father said each child must pull his own weight./ Compare: WORTH ONE’S SALT.

[pullout]{n.} An evacuation. •/The pullout of the American military proceeded on schedule./

[pull out]{v. phr.} 1. To withdraw; leave unceremoniously. •/The defeated army hastily pulled out of the occupied territories./ 2. To leave (said about trains). •/The train pulled out of Grand Central Station just as the foreign students got there./ 3. To remove by order; evacuate. •/Napoleon pulled his beaten troops out of Russia./