ENGLISH
REFERENCE

gravity's pull

idiom
Meaning

Stress or pressure of a situation acting upon a person.


Origin

disputed origin

From gravity + -'s + pull, literally “the pull of gravity”. Pull is a common collocation of the word gravity, especially as the phrasal verb pull down.

Examples
SIMPLE

The gravity's pull of his new responsibilities feels heavy today.

CONTEXTUAL

As the deadline approached, she struggled to work under the gravity's pull of her manager's high expectations.

COMPLEX

Despite his desire for freedom, he found himself unable to escape the gravity's pull of his family's long-standing traditions and expectations.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    pull a face

    To make an abnormal facial expression, either intentionally or because of an emotion.

  2. 02

    pull a fast one

    To carry out a trick or act of deception; to behave contrary to expectations.

  3. 03

    pull a lever

    To vote.

  4. 04

    pull a rabbit out of a hat

    To do something surprising and beneficial that is unexpected.

  5. 05

    pull ahead

    To move into a winning position (e.g. in a race or competition).

  6. 06

    pull an all-nighter

    To stay awake throughout the night, usually when working or studying.

  7. 07

    pull away

    To move ahead.

  8. 08

    pull back the curtain

    To reveal an underlying truth.

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