pull the pin
Trigger the explosive
Pull the pin means to quit or resign, especially abruptly or decisively.
The image comes from pulling the pin on a grenade—once done, there's no going back.
In Australian and New Zealand English particularly, it describes leaving a job or withdrawing from a commitment: After twenty years, she finally pulled the pin.
The phrase can also mean to activate something explosive or irreversible: He pulled the pin on the whole deal when he leaked it to the press.
- grenadeHandheld thrown explosive
- quitCease doing something
- detonationExplosive ignition event
- resignationVoluntary relinquishment of position
- retirement partyGathering honoring departing worker
finalize · risk-taking · irrevocable · leap of faith · inevitability · moment of truth · walk away · cut the cord · point of no return · no turning back · closure · transition · fuse · trigger · explosion · turning point · courage · trigger mechanism
pull the pinstay the course
Continue despite difficulties
double down · stick with it · see it through · hang in there · recommit
pull the pindefuse
Render harmless
disarm · deactivate · neutralize · secure · stand down
pull, pulls, pulled, pulling, puller, pin, pins, pinned, pinning