pull up stumps

verb

To cease doing something, at least for the day.

Similar
pull up stakesup sticks
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Meanings

pull up stumps1

verbpull up stumps (third-person singular simple present pulls up stumps, present participle pulling up stumps, simple past and past participle pulled up stumps)

present singular third person pulls up stumps · participle present pulling up stumps · participle past pulled up stumps · past pulled up stumps

  1. figurativelyTo cease doing something, at least for the day.

pull up stumps2

verbpull up stumps (third-person singular simple present pulls up stumps, present participle pulling up stumps, simple past and past participle pulled up stumps)

present singular third person pulls up stumps · participle present pulling up stumps · participle past pulled up stumps · past pulled up stumps

  1. USfigurativelyTo relocate, emigrate, move one's home to some other place.

    Synonyms: pull up stakes, up sticks

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo relocate, emigrate, move one's home to some other place.

Similar
pull up stakesup sticks

Origin

pull up stumps · verb

From the game of cricket, where a day's play is terminated by the umpire pulling up the stumps.

Full word history & related roots →

pull up stumps · verb

To cut off one's roots; or to pull up your house, (figurative) stumps & all.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

pull up stumps. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pull%20up%20stumps

MLA

“pull up stumps.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pull%20up%20stumps. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “pull up stumps,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pull%20up%20stumps.

Source: pull up stumps on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.