pull apart

pull someone or something apart

to separate or dismember someone or something. The murderer pulled his victim apart and sought to dispose of the parts. He pulled apart his victim. Nick pulled the parts of the box apart.

See also: apart, pull

pull someone apart 

1. Lit. to separate people who are entangled. The teacher pulled the fighting boys apart and sent them home. They hugged each other so tightly that no one could have pulled them apart.

2. Fig. to upset someone very much; to cause someone grief and torment. This whole terrible affair has just pulled me apart. Don't let this matter pull you apart. Things won't always be this bad.

See also: apart, pull

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pull apart something also pull something apart

to examine all the parts of something in order to understand it We spent the afternoon pulling apart the figures supplied by the research team.

See also: apart, pull