to pull the plug: meaning and explanation
to pull the plug (on something) = to make the decision to stop something from continuing or working.
This may involve withdrawing support or finances for something (as with micro-dictations one and two). ‘Pulling the plug’ could also involve withdrawing from a process that cannot continue without you (such as a negotiation, as in micro-dictation three).
This is quite an informal and direct idiom, and sounds quite decisive and final – imagine stopping a computer or machine by pulling the plug directly out of the socket.
Have a go at these micro-dictation exercises to hear this expression being used in context – how much can you understand?
Listening exercises
Micro-listening #1
Accent: Ireland
About the sentence
…in the coming weeks…
In the coming days/weeks/months/years is an alternative way of talking about the future. e.g. I can’t give you much information at this stage, but you’ll hear more in the coming days.
Micro-listening #2
Accent: Australia
This extra micro-listening exercise is only available to MicroEnglish Plus members. Sign up here.Micro-listening #3
Accent: Scotland
This extra micro-listening exercise is only available to MicroEnglish Plus members. Sign up here.Photo by Neven Krcmarek on Unsplash
