Meaning of "haul out"

It can also be used of a ponderous experience with a lighter object. Here, the writer considers it unpleasant ('show me how much progress I was failing to make'), so it is a 'heavy' experience for him, and the machine is 'heavy'.

Hi

This is David Sedaris, 2001, and an exercept is on the web

I think there is a third meaning here: to take a heavy-handed approach to justice

Others will know more than I, since it is a US phrase. I guess it comes from the slightly stereotyped image of the sheriff going into the saloon bar and "hauling out" the wrong-doer

I read the excerpt and enjoyed it - I

Hi, Mister Micawber and Dave,

I know this is terrible thing to say but I still don't get its meaning.

dave_anon
I think there is a third meaning here: to take a heavy-handed approach to justice

This was understandable but didn't click for me with the word "a tape recorder."

Will you rephrase the part for me?

Thank

The inference Dave is making is that "haul out" is meant to mean metaphorically that by retrieving a tape recorder (and thereby revealing the lack of progress the writer has made), "she" is passing judgment on the writer and implicitly criticizing him by her action. Without further context, I'm not sure that the meaning he infers was intended by the author, but who cares? - authorial intent has be

Hi M

Forgive me if I'm misunderstanding your further question

A tape recorder is a rather old machine that records sound. Compared with what we have today it was quite bulky so, if you were getting it out of a cupboard then you would have to haul it out

Here is an example..

HI, thanks for your reply.

I know what a tape recorder is, but the definition of "haul out" is still ambiguous to me, because I couldn't understand your example to support your definition.

dave_anon
Others will know more than I, since it is a US phrase. I guess it comes from the slightly stereotyped image of the sheriff going into the saloon bar and

Dear M

Thanks for your message

Part of the problem is that the sentence comes from David Sedaris (no offence to him!). One of his skills is to use idiomatic language, tenses and timing in order to create his narrative

So, my first thought is to say that we can't really take "haul out" out of the sentence because it just is doing what Mr S wanted it to do..

- To

Hi,

Thank you for taking your time to reply. Your rewriting worked beautifully and reminded me of how exquisite his writing is. (at least to me.)