■ verb
1》 exert force on so as to cause movement towards oneself or the origin of the force.
↘be attached to the front and be the source of forward movement of (a vehicle).
↘remove by ~ing.
↘( ~ at/on ) inhale deeply while drawing on (a cigarette).
↘ informal bring out (a weapon) for use.
↘ Brit. draw (beer) from a barrel to serve.
↘ Computing retrieve (an item of data) from the top of a stack.
2》 move steadily: the bus ~ed away.
↘move one's body against resistance.
3》 damage (a muscle, ligament, etc.) by abnormal strain.
4》 attract as a customer; cause to show interest.
↘ Brit. informal succeed in attracting sexually.
5》 informal cancel or withdraw (an entertainment or advertisement).
↘arrest.
↘check the speed of (a horse), especially so as to make it lose a race.
6》 Cricket play (the ball) round to the leg side from the off.
↘ Golf & Baseball strike (the ball) so that it travels to the left (or, with a left-handed player, the right).
7》 print (a proof).
■ noun
1》 an act of ~ing something.
↘a handle to hold while ~ing.
↘a deep draught of a drink.
2》 a force, influence, or compulsion.
3》 an injury to a muscle or ligament caused by abnormal strain.
4》 (usu. in phr. on the ~ ) Brit. informal an attempt to attract someone sexually.
5》 (in cricket, golf, baseball, etc.) a ~ing stroke.
6》 a printer's proof.
Phrases
~ someone's leg deceive someone playfully; tease someone.
~ the plug informal prevent something from happening or continuing.
~ ( one's ) punches [usu. with negative ] be less forceful, severe, or violent than one could be.
~ strings (or US ~ wires ) make use of one's influence and contacts to gain an advantage.
~ the strings be in control of events or of other people's actions.
~ one's weight do one's fair share of work.
Phrasal verbs
~ back (or ~ someone/thing back )
1》 withdraw from an undertaking.
2》 improve or restore a team's position in a sporting contest.
~ something down
1》 demolish a building.
2》 informal earn a sum of money.
~ someone/thing in
1》 succeed in securing or obtaining something.
↘ informal earn a sum of money.
2》 informal arrest someone.
3》 use reins to check a horse.
~ something off informal succeed in achieving or winning something difficult.
~ out withdraw from an undertaking.
↘retreat from an area.
~ round chiefly Brit. recover from an illness.
~ through get through an illness or other dangerous or difficult situation.
~ together cooperate in a task or undertaking.
~ oneself together recover control of one's emotions.
~ up (of a vehicle) come to a halt.
~ someone up cause someone to stop or pause; check someone.
↘ Brit. reprimand someone.
Derivatives
~er noun
Origin
OE ~ian 'pluck, snatch'; origin uncertain.