pull the plug

phrase

1
: to disconnect a medical life-support system
2
: to withdraw essential and especially financial support

Examples of pull the plug in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Alas, Shirley — an hour-long dramedy costarring Patrick Wayne, Rosanna Arquette, and Tracey Gold — lasted just 13 episodes before NBC pulled the plug. Will Harris, Entertainment Weekly, 6 July 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pull the plug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pull%20the%20plug. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster