Definition

Verb (Phrasal Verb): - To leave one's home, job, or current location, often permanently or to move elsewhere. It implies a deliberate decision to depart from a settled situation.

Usage

This phrasal verb is used to describe the act of ending one's involvement in a place or activity and moving on. It often carries a sense of finality and a significant life change.

Examples

• After living in the city for a decade, they decided to pull up stakes and move to the countryside.
• When the factory closed, many workers had to pull up stakes and look for jobs in other towns.
• She pulled up stakes after 20 years with the same company to start her own business.

Advanced Usage

• The phrase originates from the literal act of pulling tent stakes out of the ground before moving a campsite, emphasizing a complete and prepared departure.
• It is often used in contexts involving relocation, career changes, or leaving a long-term situation.

Variants and Related Words

• Pull up (verb): To bring or come to a halt. (e.g., ) This is a distinct phrasal verb with a different meaning.
• Stakes (noun, plural): The things that can be gained or lost in a situation; interest or involvement. (e.g., ) Also refers to pointed sticks driven into the ground.

Synonyms

• Leave: To go away from.
• Depart: To leave, especially on a journey.
• Relocate: To move to a new place and establish one's home or business there.
• Move on: To leave one's current situation for another.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Move out: To leave the place where you have been living.
  • They are moving out of their apartment next month.
• Pack up: To put your belongings into bags or boxes, especially before leaving.
  • It's time to pack up and go.

Related Idioms

• Pull up roots: To leave a place where one has lived for a long time. This is a very close synonym, using the metaphor of pulling plant roots from the ground.
  • Pulling up roots after so many years was difficult for the family.
• Hit the road: To begin a journey; to leave.
  • We should hit the road before traffic gets bad.

Verb

1. remove oneself from an association with or participation in
   • She wants to leave
   • The teenager left home
   • She left her position with the Red Cross
   • He left the Senate after two terms
   • after 20 years with the same company, she pulled up stakes