Pull one's head in means: To withdraw; to discontinue what one is doing or saying; to back off.. It is mainly New Zealand English and may not be understood outside that context. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
pull one's head in
(figurative, Australia, New Zealand) To withdraw; to discontinue what one is doing or saying; to back off.
ˈpʊl ˈwʌnz ˈhɛd ɪnDocumented since 1930s1930sSilenthistorical175 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026＋ Add a definition
Etymology timeline
Born ~1930 · no dated citations yet20th centurySee decade cohort →
Definitions
Australia
#1·Apr 27, 2026AUS
(figurative, Australia, New Zealand) To withdraw; to discontinue what one is doing or saying; to back off.
Origin: Perhaps from the habit of soldiers poking their heads out of army troop trains to make smart remarks, or in reference to a turtle drawing its head inside its shell for protection. Australian from circa 1930. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
For parents
Pull one's head in means: To withdraw; to discontinue what one is doing or saying; to back off.. It is mainly New Zealand English and may not be understood outside that context. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
For ESL learners
pull one's head in means: To withdraw; to discontinue what one is doing or saying; to back off.. Register: informal, New Zealand English. Often not understood outside its region; gloss the word on first use when writing for an international audience. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself.
Cluster: body
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Why is this section here?
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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Australia
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Other words near "pull one's head in" (P)
pullpull a sickiepulldoopulley bonepull-inPullmanpull someone's plonkerpull the footballpull uppull up onpull up your pantspulmonary edema
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