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• pull-off
  pull-off

  noun

  an act of pulling off.
• pull off
  pull off

  verb

  to remove (clothing) forcefully

pull-off

American  

[pool-awf, -of] / ˈpʊlˌɔf, -ˌɒf /

noun

1. an act of pulling off.

   The inn is well worth a pull-off from the Interstate.

2. a rest area at the side of a road where vehicles may park.

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pull off British  

verb

1. to remove (clothing) forcefully

2. (adverb) to succeed in performing (a difficult feat)

3. (intr) (of a motor vehicle, driver, etc) to move to the side of the road and stop

4. (intr) (of a motor vehicle, driver, etc) to start to move

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pull off Idioms  

1. Accomplish, bring off, especially in the face of difficulties or at the last minute. For example, I never thought we'd ever stage this play, but somehow we pulled it off. [Colloquial; second half of 1800s]

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Etymology

Origin of pull-off

First recorded in 1855–60; noun use of verb phrase pull off

Example Sentences

Planning board members cited the state’s repeated denial of the proposed pull-off area along Carroll Avenue when they turned down D.C.-based Neighborhood Development Co.’s application.

From Washington Post • Jan. 27, 2022

However, if the U.S. is really going to pull-off such a massive shift in its energy supply, it can’t wait and lollygag around.

From Slate • Sep. 16, 2021

“There was certainly a pull-off of the kinds of the missions we were trying to do to accommodate that visit.”

From Washington Times • Aug. 25, 2021

There’s a lot happening at this little roadside pull-off at milepost 36.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 22, 2019

“You haven’t allowed for the pull-off, and you’re slow,” Payne remarked.

From Brandon of the Engineers by Bindloss, Harold

Related Words

• achieve
• bring off
• manage