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Glite Dictionary
pull-in

pull-in

6.5
A roadside place like a cafe where drivers stop to rest and eat
  • noun
  • UK
translation icon : área de descanso
  • The pull-in along the highway was filled with trucks, as drivers rested and grabbed meals.

Examples

  • The truck driver told us that he stopped at one place on his journey, and that was at a pull-in somewhere out of London.

    Frenzy (1972)

  • She suggested stopping at a pull-in where they could stretch their legs and have a quick snack.

  • After driving for hours, the weary travelers finally took a break at a nearby pull-in to enjoy some coffee.

Synonyms

drive-in
vspull-in
39 3.7

Place where people stay in their cars to eat or watch a movie

is a place by the road used mainly by lorry drivers, not car service
truck stop
vspull-in
  • US
34 2.7

A place by the road where truck drivers stop for fuel, food, and rest

focuses more on a simple café for lorry drivers rather than full services
rest stop
vspull-in
  • US
24 1.8

A place beside a road where people stop to rest, use toilets, or buy food

is more a roadside café aimed especially at lorry drivers rather than general rest
service area
vspull-in
  • UK
3 2.7

A place on a highway where travelers stop for fuel, food, and toilets

is smaller and focuses mainly on a roadside café for lorry drivers
pull-up
vspull-in
  • UK
9.5

A small cafe by the road where truck drivers stop to eat and rest

is the same concept but differs only in label

How Big

service area
  • UK
3 2.7
hard shoulder
  • UK
1 3.2
pull-in
  • UK
6.5
cabstand
  • UK
2 7.7

Surface Forms

pull-in singular
pull-ins plural

Morphology

pull-in = pull + in (transparent) = pull + in

Formed directly from the phrasal verb 'pull in' meaning 'to pull a vehicle to the side'; learners who know 'pull' + 'in' can infer a place where one pulls in.

Etymology

Pull-in comes from the simple parts pull and in, like when a car 'pulls in' to the side of the road. That's why a pull-in is a roadside stop or small café where drivers pull in to rest and eat.