WordVale

pull off

to succeed at something difficult

In Phrasal Verbs

In more detail

1. (verb) to remove something by pulling

2. (verb) to succeed in doing something difficult or unexpected

3. (verb) to move a vehicle to the side of the road and stop

Examples

• 1. She pulled off her shoes when she got home.
• 2. He managed to pull off an amazing magic trick that surprised everyone.
• 3. The driver pulled off the highway to rest.

How to use pull off

Pull off typically means to succeed at something challenging or risky, often with an element of cleverness or audacity. It is more informal and colloquial than "accomplish" or "achieve." In driving contexts, it specifically means to move a vehicle to the shoulder or roadside to stop. The phrasal verb is common in conversational and narrative English.

Register: informal

Common phrases

• pull off a stunt
• pull off a deal
• pull off a heist
• pull off a victory
• pull off the road

Synonyms

achieve · accomplish · manage · succeed in · carry out

Opposites

fail · mess up

Word family

puller · pulling

A common mistake

Learners sometimes use pull off with a preposition (e.g., 'pull off of') when the phrasal verb itself is complete; the third sense requires no additional preposition.

Nearby in Phrasal Verbs

pay off, pick up, point out, put off, put up with, rule out

Keep going

How to remember the words you read · Spaced repetition, explained