pull What?
Who taught: Andrew, Pat, Ari and Jean
The first ultimate frisbee in my life! That’s right. I played it today with my friends. To be honest, I thought it would be easy but it is not. It is hard physically as well as technically. Nothing is easy in the world! Don’t you agree? But, that is why it is good to be alive. I mean you gotta love challenges because, at the end of the day, you, not anybody else in the world, are the one who would feel accomplishments if you overcome all of the challenges.
Andrew told me the rules of this game. Instead of my explaining here, I will give you a good link about the game for you in case you are really interested in. One of the rules is very similar to the American football. If one team scores, then each team lines up in their own sides of the field and the team which just scored throws the disc from its side to the other side. For this one, a team member who is good at throwing the disc takes the action. Andrew called this action, “pulling.” Patrick and I were curious about it. “Hey, why is it pulling, not pushing or throwing?” “I think it is because most people do backside throw and it looks like you pull the disc from inside of your body,” Andrew said. It sounds reasonable. Then, hearing that, I said, “All right! Let’s pull out!” “T-Bone! Pull out is different from pull,” Andrew told me. At that moment, I remembered that I had a very similar conversation with Jean and Ari before.
About one year ago, all of the techies in my company went to a retreat together. During a break, we were having a small talk about getting older. No offense to older people than me! But, I now started to have gray hairs and Ari noticed that I have a few of them. “Hey, Terry! You have gray hairs there,” she said. “I know, every time I found them, I ask Jessy to pull them out,” I said. Well, at that moment, Jean said, “I think pull out is not really good to use there.” We were like, “Why? What is wrong with pull out?” “It actually has a different meaning,” Jean said. Well, it turns out pull out has a very very different meaning. Here is the definition for you I found from the Urban Dictionary.
A form of birth control practiced by idiot couples to prevent pregnancy.
It is also called “Pull Out (Withdrawl) Method”.
I do not want to put too explicit ones here but there are bunch of different definitions in the Urban Dictionary and, interestingly, every single of them is the same. The only difference is the degree of explicitness. If you still cannot understand the meaning of it, here is the link for you!
So, to me, it sounds like it is not a good idea to use “pull out” expression. Am I correct? When do you use that expression except for this meaning? In addition, what kind of expression should I use to describe the action of removing my gray hairs? Maybe, take out?
That is quite the picture Terry. I thought this blog was rated G, but now I see it’s XXX!
Haha. I know! For some reason, those kind of expressions just lined up in the last week. And at the same time, I think all of the non-native Speakers deserve to know those dirty ones, too.
“… I ask Jessy to pull them out” If you actually said it like that, it should have been fine. From your story it sounds like you may have left out “them” when you originally said it.
In general, I think “pull out” is one of those things that only sounds bad depending on the context of what you’re saying…and who is around when you’re saying it. If you said something like “When I leave for work each morning, I pull out of my driveway” I doubt anyone would think that sounded dirty. It’s sort of like “that’s what she said” jokes – sometimes you can say things that are totally normal, but Jake finds a way to make them sound dirty.
Thanks! Mark,
But I have an objection about “but Jake finds a way to make them sound dirty.” part. I thought it is me.
I knew this would happen.
Your blog is being filled by “Rated R”. I can feel your blog is more commercial than educational.
It proves that you had a tendency to show a special interests about sexual things when you were in Korea. I think you blog is going to “Far Far Far away of Rated R”.
I started to love your Blog.
Well, that is not true. You were the one who used to like sexual stuff. If you do not tell a lie, I will twist your arm!
No way! I just tried to say ” i’m loving this place”
There is something you should know. Your sacrifice can make us very happy and encourage us to study English, O.K? 🙂
Don’t Forget and deny it.. 🙂
haha. OK! thanks! Keep up with your hard work on English!
For the action of pulling hairs out of the body, we’d usually say ‘pluck’, I think.
“Every time I find them, I ask Jessy to pluck my gray hairs.”
that is good to know. I will use it… pluck.