pull-off

[ pool-awf, -of ]

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.

pull off

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of pull-off¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

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]

Example Sentences

Among the most grizzly of the injuries on his job sheet is what's known as a "face pull-off", in which the actor's face appears to be ripped away from their head.

From BBC

Maryland transportation officials and Franchot’s office later said the comptroller had no influence on the Maryland State Highway Administration’s decision to reject the pull-off area, known as a layby, for safety reasons.

From Washington Post

State highway officials would later consider the developer’s application for a delivery truck pull-off area on a state road, which is critical to the project advancing.

From Washington Post

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

From Washington Times

As the paved highway winds through the Wood River Valley, there are multiple pull-off points to allow drivers to view the stars.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• achieve
• bring off
• manage