[To terminate a project / stop providing funding]
Pull the plug
[To terminate a project / stop providing funding]
In a business context, "pull the plug" is frequently used when deciding to discontinue a project or withdraw investment because it is losing money or no longer effective. The tone carries a sense of decisiveness and timely loss-cutting, and this action is usually initiated by management or investors.
Etymology & Imagery: Not unplugging an electrical cord
- Not about pulling a power plug: Many people assume this phrase is related to modern electrical appliances, but its history predates the widespread use of electricity.
- Origins in early plumbing: In the 19th century, it referred to pulling the stopper at the bottom of a bathtub or toilet to let the water drain completely.
- From draining to terminating: Just as draining the water forces a bath to end, it was later used metaphorically to mean "cutting off resources" or "terminating an action".
- Modern business usage: Today, it is widely used to describe a company stopping financial support or canceling unprofitable projects.
Business Contexts & Examples
Stopping a loss-making project:
We had to pull the plug on the failing project.
Investors withdrawing funding:
The investors pulled the plug right before the official launch.
Common Synonyms & Related Phrases
Call it quits:
Let's call it quits for today.
Cut our losses:
We need to cut our losses now.
Scrap the plan:
The board decided to scrap the plan.
