pluck

Everyday

1. To pluck something is to pull it off or out quickly, such as a flower, a fruit or a hair. tree →
2. To pluck a bird is to pull its feathers off before cooking. tree →
3. To pluck the strings of a guitar or harp is to pull and let go with your fingers to make a note. tree →
4. (noun) Pluck is courage and spirit in a difficult situation. tree →
5. To pluck up courage is to make yourself brave enough to do something. tree →

In the lessons

In music lessons, you pluck the strings of a ukulele, harp or violin (pizzicato). In stories, a brave hero shows pluck, and a shy character «plucks up the courage» to speak. In everyday life, people pluck eyebrows or pluck apples from trees. Common phrases: «pluck up the courage», «pluck a string», «pluck out of the air», «plucked from the sea», «a lot of pluck».

Examples

• She plucked an apple from the tree. tree →
• He finally plucked up the courage to ask a question. tree →
• Pluck the strings gently on your ukulele. tree →
• The lifeboat crew plucked the sailors from the stormy sea. tree →
• The farmer plucked the chicken for dinner. tree →
• The little girl showed real pluck when she spoke on stage. tree →
• He seemed to pluck the number out of thin air. tree →
• Mum plucks her eyebrows with tweezers. tree →
• Come, pluck up your courage and follow me.” tree →

Note

Regular verb: plucked. Adjective: «plucky» (brave, especially when small or weak). The noun «pluck» (courage) is a bit old-fashioned and uncountable. Do not confuse «pluck» with «plug».

In Jewish tradition

To pluck means to pull off or out. Job speaks of plucking wild plants as food of the poorest and of wicked men plucking the fatherless from the breast. The psalm says God plucked up a vine, Israel, out of Egypt to plant it in the land.

Interpretation. Tradition allows a worker to eat from his neighbour's field by hand, but not carry away with a tool, to protect both the hungry and the owner. The vine out of Egypt is read as Israel.

Examples

• When thou comest into thy neighbour's standing corn, then thou mayest pluck ears with thy hand; but thou shalt not move a sickle unto thy neighbour's standing corn. (Torah DEU.23.25, JPS 1917) tree →
• They pluck salt-wort with wormwood; and the roots of the broom are their food. (Writings JOB.30.4, JPS 1917) tree →
• There are that pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor; (Writings JOB.24.9, JPS 1917) tree →
• Thou didst pluck up a vine out of Egypt; Thou didst drive out the nations, and didst plant it. (Writings PSA.80.9, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Regular verb: plucked. Adjective: «plucky» (brave, especially when small or weak). The noun «pluck» (courage) is a bit old-fashioned and uncountable. Do not confuse «pluck» with «plug».