pull away

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pull away (third-person singular simple present pulls away, present participle pulling away, simple past and past participle pulled away)

1. (idiomatic) To move ahead.

   Schumacher is beginning to pull away from the rest of the racers.

   • 2011 October 1, John Sinnott, “Aston Villa 2 - 0 Wigan”, in BBC Sport‎:

     As Bent pulled away to the far post, Agbonlahor opted to go it alone, motoring past Gary Caldwell before unleashing a shot into the roof of the net.

2. (transitive) To move oneself further from a target, either literally or figuratively
   • 1983 August 13, Jil Clark, quoting Ronni Sanlo, “Lesbian's Activism 'Confusing' to Children”, in Gay Community News, volume 11, number 5, page 3:

     My 7-year-old son pulled away from my lover when she picked him up. He was upset. He said he loves her but he's afraid because he knows when he gets home Daddy is going to ask him if he touched us and if he says 'yes' he's going to get a spanking.

   She pulled away from me when I approached her.

   We used to be close, but Paul has been pulling away from me for years.