Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

pull one's head in

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.23 in modern English

Syllables: pul-l one's -head- in
IPA

20

Scrabble Score

14

Letters

4

Syllables

11

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To withdraw; to discontinue what one is doing or saying; to back off.

Australian usage; New Zealand usage

Example Sentences

"I really should have pulled my head in once they produced that evidence."
"“Come on. Get yer gear off. Get yer gear off like mine,” the fanstopper Australian shouted, standing and pointing to his own bare chest. Two of his friends pulled him back down into his chair. “Pull your head in,” one of them said."
"‘But you have got to pull your head in a little bit,’ he said. ‘We love your aggression and your toughness, but all the other stuff is hurting you – we need to pull you into line.’"
"Denis also told me to me pull my head in on The Footy Show, but that was never going to happen. I loved being the class clown on that show too much."

Etymology

Perhaps from the habit of soldiers poking their heads out of army troop trains to make smart remarks, or in reference to a turtle drawing its head inside its shell for protection. Australian from circa 1930.

Usage

Inflected Forms

pulls one's head in (present, singular) pulling one's head in (participle, present) pulled one's head in (participle, past) pulled one's head in (past)

Phrases

stick one's neck out wind one's neck in

Frequently Paired Words

stick one's neck out wind one's neck in

Questions

What does pull one's head in mean?: To withdraw; to discontinue what one is doing or saying; to back off.
Where does pull one's head in come from?: Perhaps from the habit of soldiers poking their heads out of army troop trains to make smart remarks, or in reference to a turtle drawing its head inside its shell for protection. Australian from circa 1930.

How to pronounce pull one's head in

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