pull someone up

English translation: Picked up

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:pull someone up
Selected answer:Picked up
Entered by: Phoenix III

12:20 Jun 30, 2016
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
English term or phrase: pull someone up
I'm translating a witness statement from a Scottish security guard:
One night two of the workers went out in a white car that pulled them up. I spoke to the guy in charge but he wasn't pleased about it.

The statement is handwritten and "puled" is spelled with a single "l" - I'm wondering whether I'm misreading it.
Ewa Dabrowska
United Kingdom
Local time: 07:13
Picked up
Explanation:
They were either hitching a ride or knew the driver. If it had been a taxi the guard would have said so. A "white car" means a private vehicle. So, I think they were simply asking for a ride or someone they knew "the white car" that picked them up.
Selected response from:

Phoenix III
United States
Local time: 02:13
Grading comment
Thanks
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
3 +6Picked up
Phoenix III


Discussion entries: 6





  

Answers


39 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +6
Picked up


Explanation:
They were either hitching a ride or knew the driver. If it had been a taxi the guard would have said so. A "white car" means a private vehicle. So, I think they were simply asking for a ride or someone they knew "the white car" that picked them up.

Phoenix III
United States
Local time: 02:13
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 8
Grading comment
Thanks

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  philgoddard: But "white car" doesn't mean private vehicle, it means a car that's white in colour.
5 mins
  -> Right, the color has nothing to do but the guard said "white" instead of "taxi". Thanks so much!

agree  Andrew Bramhall: ' pulled up' is a poor choice of word here; it means to slow down to a halt, or to call someone to account, normally;
1 hr
  -> Thanks a million!

agree  Tina Vonhof (X): I agree that 'white car' indicates a privat vehicle. If it was any kind of company vehicle or taxi, the guard would have said so.
1 hr
  -> Many thanks!

agree  acetran
3 hrs
  -> Thanks.

agree  Yasutomo Kanazawa
1 day 21 hrs
  -> Many thanks!

agree  Tony M
4 days
  -> Thank you, Tony
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