pluck out

USAGE SUMMARY

"pluck out" is correct and usable in written English.
It is a verb phrase that means to pull or remove something with a quick, forceful movement. Example: The dentist used a pair of tweezers to pluck out the stubborn piece of food stuck between my teeth.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We want to pluck out the heart of his mystery.

The New York Times

It landed on a praying clergyman and tried to pluck out his eyes.

The New Yorker

Republicans would rather pluck out their own eyes than agree to either one of those.

The Washington Post

Sometimes as a visitor, I absent-mindedly reach down to pluck out a weed.

The New York Times

I was tempted to pluck out a paperback from my purse.

The New York Times - Sports

You'll pluck out a little group of words, just maybe a phrase, and that's exactly what poetry is for.

Stanford University

Once the grouse is rested, pluck out the heart and the liver.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

In the intervening years, digital film scanners have been developed that can pluck out new details from old film.

Stanford University

To go into your head and pluck out a memory of an unfortunate love experience, that's a bad idea.

The New York Times - Science

And yet it is impossible to pluck out every fibre of hope, even when supporters affect to be irreversibly embittered.

The Guardian - Sport

Some birds have learned to pluck out the internal organs of the butterflies to avoid the highly poisonous wings.

Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "pluck out" when describing a quick, somewhat forceful removal of something, especially when it's small or embedded. For example, "pluck out" a splinter or "pluck out" a detail from a text.

Common error

While "pluck out" is a vivid phrase, it might be too informal or colloquial for certain professional or academic writing. Consider using more neutral terms like "extract" or "remove" in such contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pluck out" primarily functions as a phrasal verb, combining the verb "pluck" with the particle "out". It signifies the action of removing something with a quick, forceful movement. Ludwig examples confirm this usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Wiki

17%

Academia

13%

Less common in

Science

7%

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "pluck out" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrasal verb that describes the act of quickly and forcefully removing something. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and widespread use. While common in news, media, and informal contexts, it may be less suitable for formal academic or scientific writing. Related phrases include "extract", "remove", and "pull out", each with slightly different connotations. When using "pluck out", consider the level of formality required and the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pull out

Similar to "pluck out" but suggests a more steady or gradual removal.

extract

Implies careful removal, often for a specific purpose.

weed out

Suggests removing undesirable elements from a group.

remove

A general term for taking something away.

cull

Suggests selective removal to improve the overall quality of something.

draw out

Suggests extracting something over a period of time or with some effort.

excise

Implies surgical or precise removal.

take out

A very general term for removal; context is key to similarity.

separate

To divide or disjoin; suggests a more general action than the forceful removal of "pluck out".

detach

To unfasten and separate; may imply a gentler action than "pluck out".

FAQs

How can I use "pluck out" in a sentence?

You can use "pluck out" to describe the action of quickly removing something embedded, such as "She used tweezers to "pluck out" a splinter".

What are some alternatives to "pluck out"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "extract", "remove", or "pull out".

Is "pluck out" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "pluck out" might be too informal for certain professional or academic contexts. Consider using more neutral terms.

What's the difference between "pluck out" and "remove"?

"Pluck out" implies a quicker, more forceful action of removal, often of something small or embedded, while "remove" is a more general term.