to pull taut
- phrasal verb
- As she prepared the tent, she pulled taut the ropes to ensure it stood firmly.
- skin pulled taut
- ropes pulled taut
- cable pulled taut
And when it reaches this right orientation where the string is pulled taut, the string moves the hand and allows you to eat the popcorn.
- And when it reaches this right orientation where the string is pulled taut, the string moves the hand and allows you to eat the popcorn.
Examples
-
The archer pulled taut the bowstring before releasing the arrow.
-
He carefully pulled taut the wire to secure the frame for the fence.
-
The flags streamed behind the soldiers, pulled taut by the wind.
Fiction book (1994) -
And when it reaches this right orientation where the string is pulled taut, the string moves the hand and allows you to eat the popcorn.
-
Now all five lean backward on their heels until their arms are pulled taut.
Blog text (23) -
The sheet was pulled taut over his head so that it looked as if he were about to burst through and fly away at tremendous speed.
Fiction book (1990) -
Others joined her exultant shout as ropes pulled taut from three directions.
Fiction book (1994) -
The cabin righted itself abruptly as the cable pulled taut.
Fiction book (1999) -
Pulled taut, the heavy ropes groaned under the strain of holding the ferry on its angling course to the other side.
Fiction book (1994) -
The elastic waistband with its row of rosettes was pulled taut against his knuckles.
Fiction book (1997)
Synonyms
Make something longer or wider by pulling it
To make something hold firmly, like a bolt or belt
To fasten a strap tightly so it does not slip
To pull something like a rope until it becomes tight or to become tight
Antonyms
How Tight
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly and transparently derivable from 'pull' (apply force to bring something) + 'taut' (stretched tight): together they mean to pull something so it becomes tight with no slack. This compositional pattern is literal and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents should understand the MWE.
Etymology
The phrase pull taut comes from a simple image of pulling a rope, cord, or bandage until it is very tight. When you pull something taut you remove the 'slack', so the phrase means to stretch or make something very tight.