pull in one's horns
draw in one's horns
haul in one's horns
To reduce your boasts; calm down from a quarrel; back down on a promise.
He said he could beat any man there single-handed, but he pulled in his horns when Jack came forward.
To cut back from one's usual way of living; reduce spending or activities; save.
After the business failed, Father had to pull in his horns.
As one advances in years, it is prudent to pull in one's horns more and more as to physical activity.
pull off
To succeed in (something thought difficult or impossible); do.
Ben Hogan pulled off the impossible by winning three golf tournaments in one year.
The bandits pulled off a daring bank robbery.
The group of investors pulled off a big deal by buying half the stock in that company. I wonder how they pulled it off before the company could prevent it.
To exit to the side of a highway.
The motorist pulled off when the police officer turned on the red lights and the siren.
pull one's chestnuts out of the fire
To do someone else a great favor which they don't really deserve, doing oneself a disfavor in the process.
Small countries often have to pull the chestnuts out of the fire for their more powerful neighbors.
pull one's leg
leg-pulling
To get someone to accept a ridiculous story as true; fool someone with a humorous account of something; trick.
Подшутить над кем-либо; разыграть; одурачить.
For a moment, I actually believed that his wife had royal blood. Then I realized he was pulling my leg.
Western cowboys loved to pull a stranger's leg.
Strangers were often fooled by the cowboys' leg-pulling.
My grandfather is always pulling my leg when he comes to visit us.
Мой дедушка всегда надо мной подшучивает, когда он приходит к нам в гости.
pull one's punches
Not to hit as hard as you can.
Jimmy pulled his punches and let Paul win the boxing match.
To hide unpleasant facts or make them seem good. Usually used in the negative.
The mayor spoke bluntly; he didn't pull any punches.
pull one's teeth
To take power away from; make powerless.
The general pulled the teeth of the rebel army by blocking its ammunition supply line.
The student government council was so irresponsible that the principal pulled its teeth.
pull one's weight
To do your full share of work; do your part.
In a small shop, it is important that each man pull his weight.
When Mother was sick in the hospital, Father said each child must pull his own weight.
pull oneself together
To become calm after being excited or disturbed; recover self-command; control yourself.
It had been a disturbing moment, but he was able to pull himself together.