pull it off

Meaning

This expression means to succeed in doing something difficult, unexpected, or highly challenging. In a business context, it is often used when a team manages to complete a tough project, close a difficult deal, or meet a tight deadline against the odds. It carries a tone of admiration and accomplishment.

Examples

• The deadline was incredibly tight, but the team managed to pull it off.

  The deadline was incredibly tight, but the team managed to pull it off.

• I didn't think we'd sign the client, but Sarah pulled it off at the last minute.

  I didn't think we'd sign the client, but Sarah pulled it off at the last minute.

• It's a risky strategy, but if we pull it off, we'll dominate the market.

  It's a risky strategy, but if we pull it off, we'll dominate the market.

• Hosting a conference in two weeks is tough, but I know you can pull it off.

  Hosting a conference in two weeks is tough, but I know you can pull it off.

• No one expected them to secure the funding, yet they pulled it off.

  No one expected them to secure the funding, yet they pulled it off.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We pulled off it despite the difficulties.

  ✓ We pulled it off despite the difficulties.

  'Pull off' is a phrasal verb that requires the pronoun object 'it' to go between the verb and the particle.

• ✗ She pulled off to win the contract.

  ✓ She pulled off winning the contract.

  'Pull off' is followed by a gerund (-ing form) or a noun phrase, not an infinitive with 'to'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The presentation was a mess yesterday, but somehow she managed to ___.

  💡 succeed in doing something difficult

  Show answer

  pull it off

• If we want to ___ with such a small budget, we need to be extremely creative.

  💡 make this difficult project work

  Show answer

  pull it off