Yank
verb
To pull something quickly and strongly.
He yanked the door open.
Often appears as...
- yank something open
- yank something out
noun
A quick, hard pull.
He gave the rope a yank.
Often appears as...
- give something a yank
- feel a yank
noun
An American.
He's a yank living in London.
Often appears as...
- cheeky yank
- young yank
Usage tips
Informal, Neutral
verb
To pull something quickly and strongly.
He yanked the door open.
Often appears as...
- yank something open
- yank something out
noun
A quick, hard pull.
He gave the rope a yank.
Often appears as...
- give something a yank
- feel a yank
noun
An American.
He's a yank living in London.
Often appears as...
- cheeky yank
- young yank
Usage tips
Informal, Neutral
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Physical Action
Used when describing a strong physical action, often done in haste or without care.
She yanked at the leash when the dog tried to run.
Pro Tip 2/3Strong Emphasis
Adds intensity to the action, conveying more force than just 'pulling'.
I yanked the blanket away from him.
Pro Tip 3/3Sudden Movement
Implies a sudden or quick movement, rather than a slow, steady pull.
She yanked off her jacket in frustration.
Pro Tip 1/3Physical Action
Used when describing a strong physical action, often done in haste or without care.
She yanked at the leash when the dog tried to run.
Pro Tip 2/3Strong Emphasis
Adds intensity to the action, conveying more force than just 'pulling'.
I yanked the blanket away from him.
Pro Tip 3/3Sudden Movement
Implies a sudden or quick movement, rather than a slow, steady pull.
She yanked off her jacket in frustration.
Pro Tip 1/3Physical Action
Used when describing a strong physical action, often done in haste or without care.
She yanked at the leash when the dog tried to run.
Pro Tip 2/3Strong Emphasis
Adds intensity to the action, conveying more force than just 'pulling'.
I yanked the blanket away from him.
Pro Tip 3/3Sudden Movement
Implies a sudden or quick movement, rather than a slow, steady pull.
She yanked off her jacket in frustration.
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Video examples
Mapping the Unknown,...
yanked back and forth along this whole story you know the universe is static no now we need spark energy no that was a big blunder no now we think it exists after all but that's sometimes the way science goes so we now think the universe is actually dominated by this dark energy component the energy of empty space which causes this repulsive
Video examples
It's OK to feel...
and it takes a certain amount of curiosity about learning more about the human experience -- what I'm seeing people do is people are spinning away from that isolation because they're so terrified of it. What happened with the world right now is that basically all of our pacifiers were yanked out of our mouths.
Video examples
How cohousing can make...
sitting in a cafe, and you look around, and everyone's on their phone. You're not texting or checking Facebook, but everyone else is, and maybe, like me, you've been in a situation where you've made eye contact, smiled and said hello, and have that person yank out their earbuds
Video examples
What is Selective...
- I haven't known the guy for five minutes, and he's already handing me this big old mean concrete saw. I've done a lot of construction in my life when I was younger, but nothing like this. This is like an old weeder? I can just easy pull? - I'd give it a good yank.
Video examples
"Good" and "bad" are...
Then again, what I watched that afternoon was a baby yanking on an electric cord, so you know, good or bad, hard to say. I started seeing that when I released my grip about what made a life good or bad, I could watch my daughter's life unfold and see what it was.
Video examples
Catch of the Week - Nine...
yeah that looks like pyro look at this bro definitely weird to be fishing this close to shore there's no doubt about it but as you can see there's a guy yanking on one right next to us and we're seeing plenty of bird life with only one fish to our name this
Video examples
Cameron Sinclair: A call...
they should have the potential for evolution; they should be developed by every nation in the world and useful for every nation in the world. What will it take? There should be a sheet. I don't have time to read this, because I'm going to be yanked off.
Video examples
What makes muscles grow?...
so your brain appeals to other muscles for help. You plant your feet, tighten your belly, and tense your back, generating enough force to yank it open. Your nervous system has just leveraged the resources you already have, other muscles,
Video examples
There's no such thing as...
Voting helps us generate the very power that we wish we had. It's no accident that democracy and theater emerged around the same time in ancient Athens. Both of them yank the individual out of the enclosure of her private self.
Video examples
How to Survive an...
not yank your hand away you should think forward okay the teeth of an anaconda curved backwards to hold its prey once it bites into it that's why the scientist has to force his hand deeper into the mouth of the anaconda to
Video examples
Mapping the Unknown,...
yanked back and forth along this whole story you know the universe is static no now we need spark energy no that was a big blunder no now we think it exists after all but that's sometimes the way science goes so we now think the universe is actually dominated by this dark energy component the energy of empty space which causes this repulsive
Video examples
It's OK to feel...
and it takes a certain amount of curiosity about learning more about the human experience -- what I'm seeing people do is people are spinning away from that isolation because they're so terrified of it. What happened with the world right now is that basically all of our pacifiers were yanked out of our mouths.
Video examples
How cohousing can make...
sitting in a cafe, and you look around, and everyone's on their phone. You're not texting or checking Facebook, but everyone else is, and maybe, like me, you've been in a situation where you've made eye contact, smiled and said hello, and have that person yank out their earbuds
Video examples
What is Selective...
- I haven't known the guy for five minutes, and he's already handing me this big old mean concrete saw. I've done a lot of construction in my life when I was younger, but nothing like this. This is like an old weeder? I can just easy pull? - I'd give it a good yank.
Video examples
"Good" and "bad" are...
Then again, what I watched that afternoon was a baby yanking on an electric cord, so you know, good or bad, hard to say. I started seeing that when I released my grip about what made a life good or bad, I could watch my daughter's life unfold and see what it was.
Video examples
Catch of the Week - Nine...
yeah that looks like pyro look at this bro definitely weird to be fishing this close to shore there's no doubt about it but as you can see there's a guy yanking on one right next to us and we're seeing plenty of bird life with only one fish to our name this
Video examples
Cameron Sinclair: A call...
they should have the potential for evolution; they should be developed by every nation in the world and useful for every nation in the world. What will it take? There should be a sheet. I don't have time to read this, because I'm going to be yanked off.
Video examples
What makes muscles grow?...
so your brain appeals to other muscles for help. You plant your feet, tighten your belly, and tense your back, generating enough force to yank it open. Your nervous system has just leveraged the resources you already have, other muscles,
Video examples
There's no such thing as...
Voting helps us generate the very power that we wish we had. It's no accident that democracy and theater emerged around the same time in ancient Athens. Both of them yank the individual out of the enclosure of her private self.
Video examples
How to Survive an...
not yank your hand away you should think forward okay the teeth of an anaconda curved backwards to hold its prey once it bites into it that's why the scientist has to force his hand deeper into the mouth of the anaconda to
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Ivana Trump
Czechoslovakian Celebrity
When I was doing poorly at school, my father yanked me out and got me a job in a shoe factory. After three weeks, I begged him to give me another chance at doing well in school. I learned that discipline is necessary to accomplish anything in life.
Quote examples
Chris Sullivan
American Actor
We can never underestimate the emotionality of 'This Is Us.' Just when you think you don't have another tear to cry, we will find a way. We will find all of your tears. We will dig down deep, and we will yank them out, whether you like it or not.
Quote examples
Cuba Gooding, Jr.
American Actor
I understand it all. I can write my own ticket for one or two movies. But if they're not the right ones, my ticket gets yanked. I understand that's how it works, and I'm okay with it.
Quote examples
Beverly Sills
American Musician
My voice had a long, nonstop career. It deserves to be put to bed with quiet and dignity, not yanked out every once in a while to see if it can still do what it used to do. It can't.
Quote examples
Jonathan Zittrain
American Educator
The problem is, we're moving to software-as-service, which can be yanked or transformed at any moment. The ability of your PC to run independent code is an important safety valve.
Quote examples
Jaan Tallinn
Estonian Businessman
Once we have something that is no longer under control, once technological development is yanked out of our hands, it doesn't have to continue to be beneficial to humans.
Quote examples
Andre Iguodala
American Athlete
One move nobody knows about, when I catch the ball on the wing and I'm driving, I'm looking at the defender's legs, and I'm yanking their legs back as I run by.
Quote examples
Tommy Morrison
American Athlete
The rug was yanked out from under my feet by a misdiagnosis. All I want to do is fight.
Quote examples
Jim Norton
American Comedian
I'm afraid if I start to enjoy life, the rug will be yanked out from beneath me.
Quote examples
Kevin Knox
American Athlete
A lot of coaches might yank you after the first couple shots don't go in.
Quote examples
Ivana Trump
Czechoslovakian Celebrity
When I was doing poorly at school, my father yanked me out and got me a job in a shoe factory. After three weeks, I begged him to give me another chance at doing well in school. I learned that discipline is necessary to accomplish anything in life.
Quote examples
Chris Sullivan
American Actor
We can never underestimate the emotionality of 'This Is Us.' Just when you think you don't have another tear to cry, we will find a way. We will find all of your tears. We will dig down deep, and we will yank them out, whether you like it or not.
Quote examples
Cuba Gooding, Jr.
American Actor
I understand it all. I can write my own ticket for one or two movies. But if they're not the right ones, my ticket gets yanked. I understand that's how it works, and I'm okay with it.
Quote examples
Beverly Sills
American Musician
My voice had a long, nonstop career. It deserves to be put to bed with quiet and dignity, not yanked out every once in a while to see if it can still do what it used to do. It can't.
Quote examples
Jonathan Zittrain
American Educator
The problem is, we're moving to software-as-service, which can be yanked or transformed at any moment. The ability of your PC to run independent code is an important safety valve.
Quote examples
Jaan Tallinn
Estonian Businessman
Once we have something that is no longer under control, once technological development is yanked out of our hands, it doesn't have to continue to be beneficial to humans.
Quote examples
Andre Iguodala
American Athlete
One move nobody knows about, when I catch the ball on the wing and I'm driving, I'm looking at the defender's legs, and I'm yanking their legs back as I run by.
Quote examples
Tommy Morrison
American Athlete
The rug was yanked out from under my feet by a misdiagnosis. All I want to do is fight.
Quote examples
Jim Norton
American Comedian
I'm afraid if I start to enjoy life, the rug will be yanked out from beneath me.
Quote examples
Kevin Knox
American Athlete
A lot of coaches might yank you after the first couple shots don't go in.
Example 1 of 10
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