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Gene93 Posted 11 years ago
Vocabulary

pull away/pull back

Hello,
Here's a sentence: When he tried to kiss her, she pulled away from him. Usually, I see pull back used in such contexts or move back, but pull sounds better to me. I can't see that big difference between pull away and pull back in this context. What is it?

Thank you
  

Top answer

There is no big difference. You might think of it this way.. pulled back she went back to her original position pulled away she increased the distance between them.

— Clive

  • There is no big difference.
  • You might think of it this way..
  • pulled back she went back to her original position pulled away she increased the distance between them.
  • Clive
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9 Answers
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There is no big difference.

You might think of it this way..
pulled back she went back to her original position

pulled away she increased the distance between them.

Clive
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I agree wholeheartedly that "away" suggests a longer distance. Macmillan Dictionary says that if a person pulls back in such situations, someone else is probably holding them or touching them. That doesn't appeal to me, but it might be true. This definition is the only reason I asked you a question about these two phrasal verbs.
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Do you need any further help?

Clive
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As I think of it...Not about these two verbs. I think the same rule applies to "back off/back away". If someone was pointed a gun at, they would probably back off. Even though "off" is used here, it suggests a shorter distance than away. Am I on the right track?
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There's something I neglected to mention. Maybe "Back off" suggests that the person was standing nearer to the assailant/shooter/whoever.
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Interesting though this discussion is, I feel I should caution you not to try to analyze these terms in fine detail. When someone says these things, they are often in circumstances where they do not have time to think about nuances.

Clive
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In the sentence, "When he tried to kiss her, she pulled away from him.", "she pulled away from him" is idiomatic (in the US) and no other phrase can be used. That is, in this situation you cannot say "she pulled/moved back from him."
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"Back away" is used only to indicate an increase in physical distance. "Back off" can sometimes mean the same thing, but it is more often used to indicate the end of an attempt to do something, or a change in one's intentions as a result of discouragement or danger.

If a fire is too hot, you should back away. You should literally move away from it.

If someone gives you an unfrien
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Could Anonymous tell me what is wrong with "When he tried to kiss her, she pulled back."?

Thank you
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