pull over

move a vehicle to the side of the road and stop

B2

What does "pull (sb/sth) over" mean?

To pull over means to move a vehicle to the side of the road and stop there. This can happen in two main ways: a driver might pull over voluntarily — for example, to answer a phone call or check a map — or a police officer might signal or instruct a driver to pull over for a traffic violation such as speeding. The phrase strongly implies a lateral movement out of the flow of traffic, not just stopping anywhere. It is used in both British and American English and works equally well in everyday conversation, news reports, and official traffic contexts. The expression 'get pulled over' is particularly common in informal speech when talking about being stopped by the police.

Examples

How to use it

subject + pull over (intransitive)

Used when the driver acts voluntarily or in response to a signal, with no separate object needed.

He pulled over when he saw the flashing lights behind him.

subject + pull + pronoun + over

The most natural transitive pattern when a police officer stops a driver — pronouns must go between the verb and the particle.

The officer pulled her over for running a red light.

subject + pull + noun phrase + over

Used when the object is a short noun phrase rather than a pronoun, typically in a transitive context.

The highway patrol pulled the van over for a routine check.

be + pulled over (passive)

Very natural, especially when the focus is on the driver being stopped rather than on the police officer's action.

She was pulled over on the motorway and given a speeding fine.

get + pulled over (informal passive)

A common informal structure used in spoken English when talking about the experience of being stopped by police.

My brother got pulled over twice last year for not wearing his seatbelt.

Common Collocations

pulled over by the policepulled over for speedingget pulled overpull over safelytold to pull overpull over to the side

Common Mistakes

Confusing 'pull over' with 'pull up'

'Pull over' specifically means moving to the side of the road — often due to police or an emergency — whereas 'pull up' simply means stopping a vehicle somewhere, without the roadside or authority connotation.

✗ The police officer pulled up the car on the motorway.
✓ The police officer pulled the car over on the motorway.
Wrong pronoun position

When the object is a pronoun, it must come between 'pull' and 'over', not after the particle.

✗ The officer pulled over him for speeding.
✓ The officer pulled him over for speeding.
Using 'pull over' for entering a specific location

'Pull over' means stopping at the side of the road, not moving into a petrol station, driveway, or car park — use 'pull in' for those situations.

✗ She pulled over at the petrol station to fill up.
✓ She pulled in at the petrol station to fill up.

Usage

This phrasal verb is neutral and used in both British and American English in everyday conversation and news. When talking about being stopped by police informally, 'get pulled over' is very natural: 'I got pulled over last night.'

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'pull over' always involve the police?

No — it's very common for drivers to pull over on their own, for example to check directions, take a call safely, or deal with a problem with the car. The police context is just one of the most frequent uses, especially in the transitive pattern where an officer stops someone.

What's the difference between 'pull over to the shoulder' and 'pull over to the kerb'?

'Pull over to the shoulder' is the typical American English expression, referring to the paved strip at the edge of a highway. 'Pull over to the kerb' is more common in British English, referring to the edge of a road in a town or city. Both mean the same thing — moving to the side of the road and stopping.

Can 'pull over' be used in the passive?

Yes, and it's very natural — both with 'be' and with 'get'. 'He was pulled over for speeding' and 'He got pulled over for speeding' are both common, with the 'get' version sounding slightly more informal and conversational.

Does 'pull over' have any other meanings I should know about?

There is another sense of 'pull over' related to clothing — for example, pulling a jumper over your head — but this is a completely different meaning. Context makes it easy to tell apart: any sentence about a vehicle or road belongs to the driving sense covered here.

Can I say 'I have been pulling over all morning' to describe being stopped repeatedly?

This sounds quite unnatural. For repeated events, it's more natural to use the simple past or present perfect: 'I was pulled over twice this morning' or 'I've been pulled over a few times this year'. The present perfect continuous doesn't work well with this phrasal verb.

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