Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

pull in one's horns

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.67 in modern English

Syllables: pul-l in one's horns
IPA

20

Scrabble Score

15

Letters

2

Syllables

10

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To become less impassioned, aggressive, or argumentative; to exercise restraint; to yield or capitulate.

Example Sentences

"Barry . . . stood, during this tirade, half stupefied with rage, and half frightened, at the open attack made on him. . . . However, he couldn't pull in his horns now, and he was obliged, in self-defence, to brazen it out."
""I see Cooky's finish," I heard Smoke say to Horner. "You bet," was the reply. "Hump runs the galley from now on, and Cooky pulls in his horns.""
"Anyone else would have pulled in his horns and gone slow for a spell, but he's one of those fellows whose horse is always going to win the next race."
"Editor & Publisher Edwin Palmer Hoyt decided to pull in his horns. Said Hoyt: "We've decided it is time to pause, recapitulate and prepare to recommence.""
""Smaller hardware stores in the area were scared," he said. "They stopped making investments. They pulled in their horns.""

Etymology

In reference to the behaviour of a snail when it is threatened.

Inflected Forms

pulls in one's horns (present, singular) pulling in one's horns (participle, present) pulled in one's horns (participle, past) pulled in one's horns (past) draw in one's horns (alternative)

Synonyms

calm down chill chill out cool off cool one's jets hold one's horses settle down retreat pull back back out back away crawfish

Questions

What does pull in one's horns mean?: To become less impassioned, aggressive, or argumentative; to exercise restraint; to yield or capitulate.
Where does pull in one's horns come from?: In reference to the behaviour of a snail when it is threatened.

How to pronounce pull in one's horns

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