Definition

1. Verb (transitive):
   • To cause someone or something to fall to the ground: To apply force to make a person or object move from a higher position to a lower one, often forcefully.
   • To demolish or destroy a structure completely: To tear down a building or other erected object so that it is level with the ground.

Usage

• The primary meaning involves applying force to cause a descent or to destroy a vertical structure.
• It is a separable phrasal verb (e.g., "pull the old shed down" or "pull down the old shed").

Examples

• Cause to fall:
  • The strong winds pulled down several trees.
  • The boxer pulled down his opponent with a swift tackle.
• Demolish a structure:
  • The city plans to pull down the abandoned factory.
  • They had to pull down the damaged wall for safety reasons.

Advanced Usage

• "to pull down one's pants": To lower one's trousers, often quickly or as a prank.
  • As a joke, the children tried to pull down the statue's pants.
• Economic/Figurative Use: To reduce in value, status, or strength.
  • Poor reviews can pull down a movie's box office earnings.
  • The scandal pulled down the entire administration.

Variants and Related Words

• Demolish (v): To completely destroy a building. (More formal synonym for the destruction meaning).
• Knock down (v): To cause to fall, especially with a blow. (Close synonym for the "cause to fall" meaning).
• Level (v): To make a surface flat, especially by demolishing structures.
• Raze (v): To completely destroy a building or town. (A more literary synonym).

Synonyms

• Cause to fall: Down, knock down, floor, drop.
• Demolish: Tear down, dismantle, destroy, raze, flatten.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Pull apart: To separate into pieces by pulling.
• Pull in: To arrive at a destination; to earn money.
• Pull out: To withdraw or remove something.
• Pull through: To recover from an illness or difficult situation.
• Pull up: To bring to a stop; to improve.

Related Idioms

• "To pull down the house": (Theatrical) To receive extremely enthusiastic applause from an audience.
  • The comedian's final joke pulled down the house.
• "To pull one's socks up": To make an effort to improve. (Note: This idiom uses "pull up," not "pull down," but is a common phrasal idiom for contrast).

Verb

1. cause to come or go down
   • The policeman downed the heavily armed suspect
   • The mugger knocked down the old lady after she refused to hand over her wallet
2. tear down so as to make flat with the ground
   • The building was levelled