pull away

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Definition
  1. Verb (Intransitive):
    • To move oneself or one's vehicle away from a place or person, creating distance.
    • To start moving forward or departing, especially in a vehicle.
    • To detach or separate oneself from a close association or emotional involvement.
Usage and Examples
  • Literal Movement (Vehicle): Used to describe a vehicle beginning to move from a stationary position.
    • The bus pulled away from the stop just as I arrived.
    • She started the car and pulled away from the curb smoothly.
  • Literal Movement (Person/Group): Used to describe a person or group creating physical distance.
    • As the dog barked, the child pulled away in fear.
    • The runner pulled away from the pack in the final lap.
  • Figurative/Emotional Distance: Used to describe becoming emotionally or socially distant.
    • After the argument, he began to pull away from his friends.
    • The teenager pulled away from her parents as she sought more independence.
Advanced Usage
  • "to pull away from": This is the most common construction, specifying the point of origin or separation.
    • The train pulled away from the platform.
    • It's hard to pull away from a gripping book.
Variants and Related Words
  • Pull back (verb): Often synonymous with retreat or withdraw.
    • The general ordered the troops to pull back.
  • Withdraw (verb): A more formal synonym meaning to remove or retreat.
    • The company decided to withdraw its offer.
Synonyms
  • Depart: To leave, especially to start a journey.
  • Recede: To move back or away, often gradually.
  • Retreat: To move away from a difficult situation or enemy.
  • Draw back: To move away from something, often due to fear or surprise.
Related Phrasal Verbs
  • Pull back: To retreat or move backwards; to reduce involvement.
    • They had to pull back their forces.
  • Pull out: To depart (especially a vehicle from a side road or parking spot); to withdraw from a situation or commitment.
    • The truck pulled out in front of me without signaling.
    • The athlete had to pull out of the race due to injury.
Related Idioms
  • Make a clean getaway: To depart successfully and completely (often used in contexts of escape).
    • The thieves made a clean getaway before the police arrived. (This implies they successfully pulled away.)
Verb
  1. pull back or move away or backward
    • The enemy withdrew
    • The limo pulled away from the curb

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