Pulling the plug Meaning in English

expression · lemma: pull the plug

US

UK

Definition

To stop or end something completely, especially by taking decisive action; originally means literally disconnecting an electrical device.

Usage & Nuances

'Pulling the plug' is often used figuratively about stopping projects, businesses, or life support (medical). It has a strong sense of finality. In formal or medical contexts, it means ending support for someone on life support machines.

• Spanish: desconectar - cortar el suministro - tomar la decisión de terminar (figurado)
• Portuguese (BR): desligar - cancelar - encerrar (figurado)
• Portuguese (PT): desligar - cancelar - terminar (figurado)
• Chinese (Simplified): 拔掉插頭 - 终止（比喻用法）
• Chinese (Traditional): 拔掉插頭 - 終止（比喻用法）
• Hindi: प्लग निकालना - किसी चीज़ को बंद करना (रूपक)
• Arabic: قطع الاتصال - إنهاء (مجازياً)
• Bengali: শেষ করা - বন্ধ করা - লাইফ সাপোর্ট বন্ধ করা (চিকিৎসা সংক্রান্ত)
• Russian: прекратить - отключить - прекратить поддержку (медицинский контекст)
• Japanese: 打ち切る - 終了する - 延命治療をやめる（医療）
• Vietnamese: chấm dứt - ngừng hẳn - rút máy hỗ trợ sự sống (y tế)
• Korean: 중단하다 - 끝내다 - 연명장치를 끄다(의료)
• Turkish: fişi çekmek - son vermek - yaşam desteğini sonlandırmak (tıbbi)
• Urdu: ختم کرنا - بند کرنا - لائف سپورٹ ختم کرنا (طبّی)
• Indonesian: chấm dứt - ngừng hoàn toàn - rút máy hỗ trợ sự sống (y tế)

Example Sentences

I know it's hard, but sooner or later, someone had to consider pulling the plug.

natural

After many years, the company is pulling the plug on the old project.

basic

The hospital talked to the family before pulling the plug.

basic

They are thinking about pulling the plug on the website because it costs too much.

basic

We finally had to face reality and ended up pulling the plug on the experiment.

natural

Investors threatened to pull the plug if the startup didn't show results soon.

natural