pull foot • pull someone’s leg pull foot—(dated) leave in a hurry; run with all one’s might: The whole crew pulled foot as if Old Nick had held them in chase. pull someone’s leg—(coll.) tease or mislead smb. humorously: Stanley knew they were pulling his leg , but instead of finding it amusing he felt uneasy. See also: drag one’s feet / drag one’s foot. pull in one’s claws • pull in one’s horns pull in one’s claws—(also: draw in one’s claws) be less hostile and aggressive: Maybe his obviously terrible political tactics of the last few months have made him pull in his claws . pull in one’s horns—(also: draw in one’s horns) be less keen or active, and more careful: To buy when the buying is good, and to pull in my horns when things are negative. I try to respond to the market… pull it off • pull it out pull it off—cause smth. to happen; succeed in a difficult attempt: With Jean as leader of the party, the Liberals can pull it off . They can win the election. pull it out—(Sport) barely win; win just before the end: Despite Peyton’s extremely lackluster day we managed to pull it out with our running game and versatility. pull on the heartstrings • pull the strings pull on the heartstrings—(also: tug at the heartstrings) stir deepest feelings or affections: The group’s songs have the abil- ity to pull on the heartstrings of listeners and carry elevating messages of hope and warmth. pull the strings —(also: pull strings) 1. secretly exert influence and power: Tony’s uncle had the title of boss but it was obvious to all of us who really pulled the strings . 2. obtain smth. through the influence of people one knows: Is it possible to get anything done around here without pulling strings ? Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase pull the string of the shower-bath—(rare) cause smth. concealed to be made known suddenly: Why can’t he pull the string of the shower bath ? Why is it all locked up, refrigerated? Because he’s a priest, a mystery monger. pull one’s socks up • work one’s socks off pull one’s socks up—(UK coll.) make an effort to do better; improve one’s performance: Brian, you’d better pull your socks up if you want to pass the exam. work one’s socks off—(coll.) work very hard: I’ve been incred- ibly busy working my socks off for the last couple of months. See also: beat the socks off someone / knock someone’s socks off. pull one’s wire • pull wires pull one’s wire—(sl., of a male) masturbate: Remember what I said about sex. Keep away from the maids and pretty boys. As for pulling your wire , that’s no occupation for a gentle- man. pull wires—(also: pull strings) 1. obtain smth. through the influence of people one knows: Us guys pull wires to get jobs as guards, and you convicts go over the wall whenever you can. 2. secretly exert influence and power: Vanderbilt imme- diately got busy pulling wires ; and when the resolution came up for vote, a number of Senators sprang up to withdraw Van- derbilt’s name. pull someone down • pull someone under pull someone down—1. weaken a person in health: My mother tried to kill herself as her chronic degenerative disease pulled her down . 2. reduce smb. to a lower level morally; make smb. humble: His opponents often quoted the lackluster per- formance of the party during this time to pull him down . Note: The expression is not antonymous in meaning to the phrase pull someone up1. make a driver bring his vehicle to a stop: Somebody thought it was a sidecar without the bike and even the police pulled me up and said, “is that a real car?” 2. express one’s disapproval of a person’s behavior: The class was full and the teacher pulled him up for being late before he got to his desk. pull someone under—cause a person to go under water: At the time of the accident she saw him hanging onto a rock before the current pulled him under . pull something to pieces • take something to pieces pull something to pieces—1. destroy or dismantle smth.: While we were out, our dog pulled to pieces two of our sofa cushions. 2. criticize smth. severely: I explained my theory and he just pulled it to pieces . take something to pieces —(of machinery, etc.) take smth. apart so that it is in separate pieces: He took to pieces and reassem- bled an entire engine. pull the devil by the tail • twist the lion’s tail pull the devil by the tail—be constantly in difficulties or financial straits: He was tired of knocking about, of pulling the devil by the tail …. Would he never get a good job? twist the lion’s tail—provoke the resentment of the British people (used with reference to foreign insults to Great Britain): I took a silent vow never again to twist the lion’s tail editori- ally. pull the plug on someone • put a plug in for someone pull the plug on someone—1. remove life-supporting equip- ment from a terminal patient: David’s prayers awoke his friend from a coma several days before they were going to pull the plug on him. 2. discontinue a person’s employment: Remem- ber how many reporters complained and talked about Jayson long before his editors finally decided to pull the plug on him? put a plug in for someone—highly recommend a person; pro- mote smb.’s interests: Let me put a plug in for the new leader, the guy coming in to take my place. He is my longtime friend. pull the plug on something • put a plug in for something pull the plug on something—stop working on smth.; put an end to an activity: You should have a contingency fund to cover unexpected costs that could force you to pull the plug on the project. put a plug in for something—highly recommend a product, etc.; advertise or promote smth.: I want to put in a plug for a wonderful little paperback entitled “Waves and Beaches.” pull the plug out • pull the stops out pull the plug out—stop working on a project, etc.; put an end to an activity: If he is no longer updating the newsgroup site and decided to pull the plug out , would that be the end of the newsgroup? pull the stops out—apply all one’s energy to the task in hand; work as hard as possible: We believe in offering a more per- sonal service and we pull the stops out when you need us most. pull-boat • pulling boat pull-boat—1. (hist.) a barge or boat propelled by pulling a rope: It is a treat to see a powerful young Dutchwoman handle a rope on a pull-boat . 2. (U.S.) a motorized flatboat used to draw logs over water: In the cypress swamps of Louisiana there are employed what are known as pull-boats . – 273 – pull-boat