Skip to main content

pull throughto survive a serious illness, injury, or difficult situation

Part of speech: VERB

Definition: to survive a serious illness, injury, or difficult situation

Pronunciation (IPA): /pʊl θruː/

Example Sentences

  • My grandmother pulled through three surgeries and is now teaching salsa dancing at 85.
  • The company pulled through the recession by selling their CEO's luxury car collection.
  • With proper medical care and rest, most patients pull through completely.

pull through

VERB

[/pʊl θruː/]

to survive a serious illness, injury, or difficult situation

After weeks in intensive care, grandpa managed to pull through and smiled again.
💡 Concept

After weeks in intensive care, grandpa managed to pull through and smiled again.

See through the storm, break through to pull through!
🎵 Rhyme

See through the storm, break through to pull through!

Got the picture? Now let's practice.

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/pʊl θruː/
🇬🇧 UK/pʊl θruː/

🌳Etymology

Rootpull
Suffix-through

Origin

This phrasal verb emerged in Middle English during the 14th century, combining 'pull' (to draw or drag) and 'through' (across or beyond). The combination evolved to metaphorically represent overcoming difficult circumstances by persisting through them, as if pulling oneself across an obstacle.

Breakdown

pull (to draw or drag forcefully) + through (across, beyond, or to the end of something). The verb 'pull' comes from Old English and Germanic roots, while 'through' derives from Old English 'thurh' meaning passage or penetration.

🎵Rhyme

see throughgo throughbreak through
see through
go through
break through

🔗Collocations

pull through an illness
pull through surgery
pull through a crisis
pull someone through
barely pull through
pull through alive

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

My grandmother pulled through three surgeries and is now teaching salsa dancing at 85.

😄 Fun example

The company pulled through the recession by selling their CEO's luxury car collection.

With proper medical care and rest, most patients pull through completely.

His sense of humor helped him pull through the darkest moments of his life.

📚Related Words

Synonyms

recoversurviveovercomeget throughmake it

Antonyms

succumbfailgive up

Related

pull outget overbounce backweather the storm

Want to master 19,000+ words?

Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.