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haul up

B2 informal separable transitive
In simple words

To pull something heavy upward, or to make someone come and explain themselves to a person in charge.

Literal meaning: To drag or pull something upward from below.

Meanings

1 B1 neutral

To raise something heavy by pulling it upward with significant effort.

"The sailors hauled up the anchor before the tide changed."

Grammar: separable
2 B2 idiomatic informal

To bring someone before a person of authority to answer for a wrongdoing.

"She was hauled up before the disciplinary committee for repeatedly breaking company policy."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

Two main senses: the physical sense (pulling something upward with force) and the disciplinary sense (being called before a superior or court). The disciplinary sense is common in British and Australian English. Often used in passive: 'was hauled up before the board'.

Commonly used with

anchor court manager board magistrate rope

Forms

Base
haul up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
hauls up
he/she/it
Past simple
hauled up
yesterday
Past participle
hauled up
have + pp
-ing form
hauling up
continuous

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