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Pulling the Plug

What Does "Pulling the Plug" Mean?

homeidiomsPulling the Plug
"Pulling the plug" is an English idiom. It means "to stop or discontinue an activity, project, or operation, often abruptly and usually because it is no longer viable or productive."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "pulling the plug" used in a sentence:
  • After years of losses, the company had no choice but to start pulling the plug on its failing subsidiaries.
  • They decided to pull the plug on the construction project due to budget overruns and delays.
  • The team had to pull the plug on the mission when they encountered unexpected technical issues.
meaning for pulling the plug

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Pulling the Plug" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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