haul

drag/haul someone over the coals

to speak angrily to someone because they have done something wrong. If I make a spelling mistake, I get hauled over the coals by my boss. They dragged her over the coals for being late with her assignment. (often + for)

See also: coal, drag, over

haul ass (American, very informal!)

to move very quickly, especially in order to escape. When the shooting started we hauled ass out of there.

See also: ass

haul/pull yourself up by your bootstraps

to improve your situation by your own efforts without any help from other people. My father pulled himself up by his bootstraps to become one of the richest men in the country.

See also: pull

in/over the long haul (American)

for a long period of time. You have to think how the company will perform over the long haul.

See also: long, over

a long haul

something that takes a lot of time and energy. It's been a long haul but we've finally got the house looking the way we want it.

See also: long

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for the long haul

for a long period of time. Before you invest in Internet stocks, be sure you can afford to invest for the long haul.

Usage notes: also used in the form over the long haul during a long period of time: It's possible, over the long haul, to see changes in the populations of these birds.

See also: long

haul someone into somewhere

to use or threaten force to make someone go somewhere. He was hauled into court and fined ten dollars for not putting his garbage in sealed bags.