| Phrasal verb | Main meaning |
|---|---|
pull apart [pʊl əˈpɑːt] | separate something into pieces by pulling |
Other meanings
- separate people or things that are together (e.g., stop a fight)
- analyze/criticize something in detail (figurative)
- cause distance or division between people/things (figurative)
- disassemble something to inspect or fix it
- move/drift apart (intransitive; of people/things)
Example Sentences Using the Phrasal Verb "pull apart"
- She pulled apart the warm bread and shared it with everyone.
- The referee pulled the players apart before the fight escalated.
- Critics pulled apart the film’s logic scene by scene.
- The couple pulled apart over the years.
- We pulled apart the old radio to see what was broken.
- We need to pull apart the budget issue and the timing issue.
Features of Using "pull apart"
With pronouns, place them between verb and particle (“pull it apart”).
Nuance: pull apart often suggests using hands and moderate force; tear apart is stronger/more violent; take apart implies deliberate disassembly.
Other phrasal verbs with the verb pull
pull through
to recover from a serious illness or difficult situation