Morrison: The car pulled ahead

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Marius Hancu - 19 Jan 2010 16:34 GMT

Hello:

I have the impression that in this case the meaning of
"the car pulled ahead"
isn't
"the car moved in the lead (of a column of vehicles)"
as they seem to be the only car on the road, but something else.

Thus, are there any alternate meanings?

---
[Going out in a hunting party]

Soon the only light came from the moon and it was getting cool enough
for Milkman to be grateful for his knit cap. The car pulled ahead and
around some sharp bends.

Toni Morrison, Song of Solomon, p. 272
---
--
Thanks.
Marius Hancu

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Murray Arnow - 19 Jan 2010 16:38 GMT

>Hello:
>
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
>Toni Morrison, Song of Solomon, p. 272
>---

I interpret the meaning, from the context, that the author could have
easily said "the car continued on."

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Marius Hancu - 19 Jan 2010 18:36 GMT

> >I have the impression that in this case the meaning of
> >"the car pulled ahead"
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
> I interpret the meaning, from the context, that the author could have
> easily said "the car continued on."

That's exactly how I see it.

Thank you both.
Marius Hancu

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Cheryl - 19 Jan 2010 16:48 GMT

> Hello:
>
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> Thanks.
> Marius Hancu

I think it just means that the car moves forward, although it is more
common for a car to pull ahead of some other vehicle.

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Cheryl

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CDB - 20 Jan 2010 15:14 GMT

>> I have the impression that in this case the meaning of
>> "the car pulled ahead"
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> I think it just means that the car moves forward, although it is
> more common for a car to pull ahead of some other vehicle.

In view of that, maybe it means that the car sped up: that's what it
would do in pulling ahead of another car. It's not a standard
meaning, Marius. It sounds more like the author's misinterpretation
of the phrase.

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Frank ess - 20 Jan 2010 22:51 GMT

>>> I have the impression that in this case the meaning of
>>> "the car pulled ahead"
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> meaning, Marius. It sounds more like the author's misinterpretation
> of the phrase.

Aside from the apparently inappropriate "ahead of another" usage, my
historical ear rings more true with "pull ahead": a few inches (so I
can close the garage door), a couple of feet (so the lift arms meet
the jacking points), a car-length (because traffic has moved that much
in the last few minutes), or several yards (so the next customer's
porch is a shorter walk from the milk delivery truck.

Signature

Frank ess

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CDB - 21 Jan 2010 14:58 GMT

>>>> I have the impression that in this case the meaning of
>>>> "the car pulled ahead"
[quoted text clipped - 25 lines]
> much in the last few minutes), or several yards (so the next
> customer's porch is a shorter walk from the milk delivery truck.

So the question for Marius is, was the car moving (as I had assumed)
or standing, in the first sentence?

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Discussion Groups / English Usage / January 2010

Morrison: The car pulled ahead