pull the trigger

Definition

Definition of pull the trigger - Reverso English Dictionary

Verbal expression

weaponfire a gun by pulling the trigger

He hesitated before he pulled the trigger.

discharge

fire

shoot

actionto initiate a process or action

After months of planning, they finally pulled the trigger on the new project..

commence

initiate

start

decision-making

make a decisive decision or commitment

She finally pulled the trigger on the new project.

commit

decide

Add a suggestion |

Feedback:

Expressions with pull

pull down

make clothes lower on the body

She pulled down her sleeves to cover her arms.

pull off

remove something by pulling

He quickly pulled off his shoes..

pull out

remove something from a place where it is attached or enclosed

She carefully pulled out the splinter with tweezers..

pull up

cause a vehicle to stop

She pulled up the car at the curb.

pull ahead

move into a leading position in a race

She managed to pull ahead in the final lap.

pull at

tug or pluck gently with fingers

She would pull at the loose thread on her sweater.

Expressions with trigger

trigger warning

statement alerting to potentially distressing content

The article included a trigger warning for graphic descriptions.

trigger off

cause something to start or happen

The loud noise triggered off the alarm system..

itchy trigger finger

trigger finger eager to fire a weapon

The soldier had an itchy trigger finger during the standoff.

squeeze the trigger

press the trigger of a gun

He squeezed the trigger and the gun fired.

someone's trigger finger's itching

exp.

eager to take action or make a decision

His trigger finger's itching to start the project.

someone's trigger finger itches

exp.

feeling eager or impatient to take action

His trigger finger itches whenever there's an argument.

gun trigger

something that starts a process or reaction

The news acted as a gun trigger for protests.

hair-trigger

adj.

easily angered or upset by small things

He has a hair-trigger temper that flares up quickly.

trigger-happy

adj.

quick to use or activate something, especially weapons

The officer was criticized for being trigger-happy during the arrest..

trigger an avalanche

cause a large mass of snow to slide down

The loud noise could trigger an avalanche in the mountains.

Examples of pull the trigger in a sentence

In the heat of the moment, she pulled the trigger.
She decided to pull the trigger on her startup idea.
It's time to pull the trigger and make the investment.
He pulled the trigger on buying the new car.
They decided to pull the trigger on the merger.

View all translations of pull the trigger

✨Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.

French:appuyer sur la détente, passer à l'action, ...
German:den Abzug betätigen, den Startschuss geben, ...
Italian:premere il grilletto, dare il via, ...
Spanish:apretar el gatillo, tomar la decisión, ...
Portuguese:puxar o gatilho, dar o pontapé inicial, ...
Chinese:扣动扳机, 启动, ...
Japanese:引き金を引く, 行動を起こす, ...
Arabic:ضَغَطَ الزِّناد, بَدَأ التَّنْفيذ, ...
Hebrew:לִלְחוֹץ עַל הַהֶדֶק, לְיָזוֹם, ...
Russian:нажимать на курок, начать действие, ...
Ukrainian:натискати на спусковий гачок, розпочати, ...
Hindi:गोली चलाना, कार्रवाई शुरू करना, ...
Bengali:ট্রিগার টানা, চূড়ান্ত সিদ্ধান্ত নেওয়া, ...
Catalan:prémer el gallet, tirar endavant, ...
Czech:stisknout spoušť, spustit, ...
Danish:trykke på aftrækkeren, sætte i gang, ...
Dutch:de trekker overhalen, de knoop doorhakken, ...
Greek:πατώ τη σκανδάλη, ξεκινώ, ...
Hungarian:elsütni, elindítani, ...
Khmer:បាញ់កាំភ្លើង, ចាប់ផ្តើមអនុវត្ត, ...
Korean:당기다, 시작하다, ...
Persian:شلیک کردن, اقدام کردن, ...
Polish:pociągnąć za spust, decydować się na rozpoczęcie, ...
Portuguese (BR):puxar o gatilho, dar o pontapé inicial, ...
Romanian:a apăsa pe trăgaci, a da startul, ...
Swedish:trycka på avtryckaren, sätta igång, ...
Thai:เหนี่ยวไก, ตัดสินใจลงมือ, ...
Turkish:tetik çekmek, başlatmak, ...
Vietnamese:bóp cò, triển khai, ...

Browse the dictionary entries starting with “p”:

Discover how Reverso redefines the dictionary

Go beyond “simple words”

100,000 expressions & idioms Understand any expression you come across: from corporate jargon like 💬 touch base or ↩️ circle back to everyday expressions such as 🌊 out of the blue or 🦆 lame duck, as well as idioms like 🍲 spill the beans and 🐎 hold your horses.

40,000 images When you search for a concrete noun or object, images help you grasp the meaning at a glance. Try searching for 🧵 puppytooth, 🎠 merry-go-round, ⚜️ fleur-de-lys, or 💤 bunk bed.

Informal language & slang Everyday conversations are packed with informal expressions and slang. Meanings are clearly tagged, so you'll always know when a word is casual. Look up hangry (😋 hungry + 😡 angry), 😎 rizz, 🕹️ noob, or 🔑 low-key.

Abbreviations & acronyms Quickly decode modern abbreviations and acronyms. Go from IDK to OMG in seconds and stay up to date with popular abbreviations such as 🐐 GOAT, 📜 tl;dr, 👀 POV, or 🖥️ AFK.

Regional usage (US / UK) Reverso highlights regional differences between American and British English. You’ll never have to wonder where a word is commonly used: try lift vs. elevator, courgette vs. zucchini, or popular British slang like dodgy or banter. What’s more, when you search for 'color', you’ll immediately see its British counterpart, 'colour'.

Get more than a simple definition

Translations for each meaning View translations alongside each meaning to see how a word is translated in each context. Simply toggle translations ON and choose among 25+ languages. You can also display the translation of definitions or examples into your native language to deepen your understanding.

Synonyms & related words by meaning View synonyms and related words for each meaning, not just for the word as a whole. This helps you choose the most accurate word for your context. Click the

icon to discover related terms: analogies, antonyms, common collocates, words with same roots, umbrella terms… Try with happening or hunch.

Multiple examples for every meaning Each meaning comes with three real-life examples to show you how the word is used in different contexts. Click the

icon next to the first example to see two additional options and learn to use new vocabulary naturally.

Go from understanding to mastery

Save words for later review Click the

icon to save words you want to revisit. You can also save a specific meaning by clicking on the

icon next to it. For example, you might want to save the word “table” as a verb, which means “to postpone”.

Practice with personalized flashcards Reverso automatically transforms your searches and saved words into personalized flashcards and quizzes, featuring high-quality audio and usage examples. This helps you transform terms you only recognize into words you actually use confidently.

Learn with Netflix, YouTube, and your favorite texts With Reverso Chrome extension, transform movies, TV shows, articles, or song lyrics into an interactive lesson. Look up words and expressions in one click on any website and learn with your favorite content.