pull away from the dock

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "pull away from the dock" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when describing a boat or ship departing from a dock. Example: "As the captain gave the signal, the crew began to pull away from the dock." Alternative expressions include "depart from the dock" and "leave the dock."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

It was mid-August 1969 and I was in Belfast waiting for the overnight ferry to Glasgow to pull away from the dock.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

"I'm not putting my worm on the hook," said Shawnet, 11, of Uniondale, scrunching her nose, primping and giggling with her campmate Nichelle Raymond, as the 72-foot boat pulled away from the dock and headed for Reynolds Channel.

The New York Times

All eyes were trained on a blue-and-yellow 30-foot muscle boat called Pussy Cat as it pulled away from the dock with the roar of a tsunami.

The New York Times - Style

Having gallantly given up her lover, Carla looks back at him from the rail of a ship as it pulls away from the dock and into the night; she sings "One Day When We Were Young," with its haunting English lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, as the ship slowly merges with the darkness, and Strauss realizes what he has lost.

The New York Times

Last year, in her capacity as a co-chair of the New York City Water Trail Association, Brous began collating the complaints of other paddlers that the myriad ferryboats using the river routinely failed to toot their horns before pulling away from the dock, in defiance of maritime law, specifically Inland Navigation Rule 34.

The New Yorker

IT is a recurring motif in deodorant advertisements that no matter how stressful the situation — sprinting to jump onto the ferry as it pulls away from the dock, pointing to a chart during the big sales presentation — the product keeps you dry and fresh.

The New York Times

When, pulling away from the dock in Fuling at the end of his Peace Corps term, Hessler looks back at the city and wonders if he'll see it again, you realize with a shock that he's not just being sentimental.

The New York Times - Books

Boarding a cruise ship imparts an instantaneous sense of getaway, a deep Ahhhhh, even before you've pulled away from the dock.

Forbes

The accident took place near Lamma Island shortly after one of the ferries had pulled away from the dock, loaded with more than 120 people on a company outing to watch a fireworks display in Victoria Harbour in celebration of China's National Day and mid-autumn festival.

Forbes

As I pulled away from the dock, the clouds began to break up.

Huffington Post

Four hours later we're pulling away from the dock and sunset begins to work its magic.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

This phrase is excellent for narrative writing to signal the beginning of a journey or a moment of departure.

Common error

Do not confuse this with approaching a dock; in that case, you should use "pull into the dock". Additionally, while "pull away" is used for cars leaving a curb, ensuring the mention of the "dock" is vital for the maritime context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pull away from the dock" functions as a complex intransitive verb phrase. According to Ludwig AI, it combines the phrasal verb "pull away" with a prepositional phrase defining the point of origin. It describes a spatial transition from a fixed point.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Social Media

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "pull away from the dock" is a highly effective and grammatically correct phrase for describing the moment a vessel departs. Ludwig AI indicates that it is a preferred choice in high-authority media for its descriptive clarity. While it is categorized as rare in terms of exact string matching, its components are standard and it is found in the most prestigious English publications. It is most frequently used in News & Media and narrative contexts to illustrate the start of a sea journey. For writers, it offers a more evocative alternative to simple verbs like "leave" or "depart", capturing the physical sensation of moving out into the open water.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cast off from the dock

Focuses on the technical act of releasing the ropes and lines holding the boat.

slip away from the dock

Suggests a smooth, quiet or stealthy departure.

depart from the pier

A more formal way to describe the separation of the ship from the structure.

leave the wharf

Uses a synonym for the structure where ships are moored.

move away from the quay

Utilizes more specific nautical terminology for the landing area.

set sail from the port

A more traditional or poetic expression for starting a sea voyage.

undock from the berth

More technical and formal, often used in professional maritime or logistics contexts.

push off from the shore

Usually refers to smaller boats where physical force is used to move away from land.

exit the marina

Refers to the act of leaving the general docking area for pleasure crafts.

disembark from the landing

Often used for the act of people leaving, but sometimes applied to the vessel's movement.

FAQs

How to use "pull away from the dock" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a vessel leaving, for example: "The ferry began to "pull away from the dock" just as the sun was setting."

What can I say instead of "pull away from the dock"?

You can use alternatives like "cast off from the dock", "depart from the pier" or "slip away" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "pull off from the dock"?

While understandable, it is less common and less idiomatic than using "pull away from the dock" for maritime departures.

What's the difference between "pull away from the dock" and "set sail"?

The phrase "pull away from the dock" describes the literal physical separation from the land, while "set sail" is a more general idiom for starting a voyage, even if the ship uses an engine.