When the centre-left pulled off its age-old trick of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat in this year's general election, it was clear to everyone that dynamic new leadership was essential for a party that promises much, but delivers very little.
It was such a strong piece of stalk, it did seem wasteful to toss it on the compost, so its bottom leaves were pulled off.
YEONGAM, South Korea — Just when it looked as if the 55 laps of the Korean Grand Prix would be yet another eventless walkover by the Red Bull car of Sebastian Vettel, winner of the previous three races, the other Red Bull car, driven by Mark Webber, suddenly burst into flames with 18 laps left and pulled off to the edge of the track.
A huge storage tank was dented and bent and pipes on the side of a building were twisted and pulled off, left hanging.
Your host greets you as you peek through the entry curtain and sort of shoos you in, where you jostle and are jostled by other guests arriving and leaving, pulling coats on and off a portable coat rack.
"By the time the Olympic roster was finalized with most of the veterans still in the lineup, so much harm had been done to team chemistry, confidence and enthusiasm that it had no fight left when Norway pulled off the upset".
Madrid had five minutes left to pull off a miracle.
we have 7 days left to pull off the impossible stand up and say no no to the darkness.
Across the restaurant, diners looked on with undisguised jealousy: the aromatic spray of steam and herbs that filled the room as the leaves were pulled off the bird brought conversation in the Shun Lee dining room to a stop.
Audiard (who directed The Beat That My Heart Skipped in 2005) is a past master of tough low-life crime cinema, and his sure touch ensures that even the more improbable elements of his story – such as his hero out on day leave to pull off a gang killing – come off grippingly.
With only two weeks left in 2013, Beyoncé pulled off one of the year's biggest surprises in music.
