pull through

Meaning

To succeed in dealing with a very difficult situation, crisis, or period of hardship, or to help someone else do so. In business, it often refers to surviving a tough financial quarter, delivering a high-stakes project at the last minute, or recovering from a setback. The tone is casual, supportive, and encouraging.

Examples

• It was a tough quarter, but thanks to the sales team, we managed to pull through.

  It was a tough quarter, but thanks to the sales team, we managed to pull through.

• I know the deadline is tight, but I'm confident our developers will pull through.

  I know the deadline is tight, but I'm confident our developers will pull through.

• The government loan helped many small businesses pull through the economic downturn.

  The government loan helped many small businesses pull through the economic downturn.

• With everyone working overtime, we pulled through and delivered the client's order on time.

  With everyone working overtime, we pulled through and delivered the client's order on time.

• If we can just pull through this audit, things should return to normal next week.

  If we can just pull through this audit, things should return to normal next week.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We pulled through the project on time.

  ✓ We pulled the project through on time.

  If you use 'pull through' transitively to mean bringing a difficult task to a successful end, the object usually goes between 'pull' and 'through' (e.g., 'pull the project through'). Otherwise, use it intransitively: 'We pulled through and finished on time.'

• ✗ The company managed to pull over the financial crisis.

  ✓ The company managed to pull through the financial crisis.

  'Pull over' means to drive a vehicle to the side of the road. Use 'pull through' to mean surviving or overcoming a crisis.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Despite the supply chain disruptions, our logistics team managed to ___.

  💡 survive the difficult situation

  Show answer

  pull through

• We just need to ___ this busy season, and then we can all take some time off.

  💡 get through a tough period

  Show answer

  pull through