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pluck out

B1 neutral separable transitive

To remove something by pulling it sharply with the fingers or a tool

In plain English

To quickly pull something out from where it is stuck or growing

What does "pluck out" mean?

2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.

1 B1 neutral

To remove something by gripping and pulling it sharply with the fingers

"She plucked out the grey hairs one by one, wincing with each pull."

Pluck out the beam from your own eye.

— Matthew 7:5, The Bible (King James Version)
separable
2 B2 idiomatic neutral

To select and remove someone or something from a group, often suddenly or unexpectedly

"The talent scout plucked the young singer out of obscurity and signed her immediately."

separable

Literal vs figurative

Words literally mean

To pluck something and pull it outward

Actually means

To quickly pull something out from where it is stuck or growing

Usage tip

Often used for removing feathers, hairs, thorns, weeds, or teeth. Can also be used figuratively to mean selecting or extracting someone or something from a group. The motion implied is swift and precise.

Words that pair with "pluck out"

Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.

feather hair thorn weed splinter eye

How to conjugate "pluck out"

The five tense forms you'll use most often.

Base
pluck out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
plucks out
he/she/it
Past simple
plucked out
yesterday
Past participle
plucked out
have + pp
-ing form
plucking out
continuous

Hear "pluck out" in the wild

Listen to native speakers using "pluck out" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.

Keep exploring

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