Cool MatePower vs You got a lot of pull
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Power
Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun
You got a lot of pull
InformalTop 5,000 (fairly common)
Most formal: PowerMost common: Power
| Power | You got a lot of pull | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈpaʊə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈpaʊər/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //jʊ ɡɒt ə lɒt əv pʊl//🇺🇸 //ju ɡɑt ə lɑt əv pʊl// |
| Meaning | The ability to do something or to control people or things. | You have a lot of influence or power. |
| Example | The power of the wind can generate electricity. | In the office, you got a lot of pull with the management. |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | absolute, ultimate, considerable, come to, rise to, assume, be concentrated in (the hands of somebody/something), flow from somebody/something, lie with somebody/something, struggle, relations, structure, in power, in somebody’s power, power of, abuse of power, the balance of power, a bid for power, absolute, ultimate, considerable, come to, rise to, assume, be concentrated in (the hands of somebody/something), flow from somebody/something, lie with somebody/something, struggle, relations, structure, in power, in somebody’s power, power of, abuse of power, the balance of power, a bid for power, full, reduced, electric, generate, produce, provide (somebody/something with), drive something, run something, go off, cable, grid, line, power for, a source of power, full, reduced, electric, generate, produce, provide (somebody/something with), drive something, run something, go off, cable, grid, line, power for, a source of power, awesome, great, real, awesome, great, real, air, combat, military, have, possess, use, beyond somebody/something’s power, in somebody’s power, within somebody’s power, at the height of your powers, at the peak of your powers, at the zenith of your powers, air, combat, military, have, possess, use, beyond somebody/something’s power, in somebody’s power, within somebody’s power, at the height of your powers, at the peak of your powers, at the zenith of your powers, air, combat, military, have, possess, use, beyond somebody/something’s power, in somebody’s power, within somebody’s power, at the height of your powers, at the peak of your powers, at the zenith of your powers, absolute, ultimate, considerable, come to, rise to, assume, be concentrated in (the hands of somebody/something), flow from somebody/something, lie with somebody/something, struggle, relations, structure, in power, in somebody’s power, power of, abuse of power, the balance of power, a bid for power, great, major, world, air, combat, military, have, possess, use, beyond somebody/something’s power, in somebody’s power, within somebody’s power, at the height of your powers, at the peak of your powers, at the zenith of your powers, air, combat, military, have, possess, use, beyond somebody/something’s power, in somebody’s power, within somebody’s power, at the height of your powers, at the peak of your powers, at the zenith of your powers, absolute, ultimate, considerable, come to, rise to, assume, be concentrated in (the hands of somebody/something), flow from somebody/something, lie with somebody/something, struggle, relations, structure, in power, in somebody’s power, power of, abuse of power, the balance of power, a bid for power | got pull, have a lot of pull, use your pull, pull in a community, pull with the boss |
| Antonyms | weakness, ineffectiveness | - |
| Common mistakes | 'Power' as a verb — learners often mistakenly use 'power' when they mean to say 'empower'., Confusing 'power' with 'might', as they have different nuances., Misusing 'power' in phrases, e.g., 'the power of' requires a specified noun. | Confusing 'pull' with 'push' in discussions about influence., Using it in overly formal situations., Misunderstanding it to mean physical strength. |
| Usage notes | Used in both formal and informal contexts. In discussions about politics or leadership, 'power' often has a weighty connotation, while in casual settings it might refer to electricity or strength. Avoid using it in overly casual contexts when discussing serious topics. | Used in casual conversations, often about someone’s ability to persuade or affect decisions. Avoid in formal contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Power vs You got a lot of pull
What's the difference between Power and You got a lot of pull?
Power: The ability to do something or to control people or things. You got a lot of pull: You have a lot of influence or power.
Which is more formal: Power and You got a lot of pull?
Power is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Power and You got a lot of pull?
Power is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Power: The power of the wind can generate electricity. You got a lot of pull: In the office, you got a lot of pull with the management.
Can I use Power and You got a lot of pull interchangeably?
Not always. Power and You got a lot of pull are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.