meaning of 'pull the plug'

[Chahra]

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #293 "English Slang Idioms (15)", question 5

The government decided to pull the ......... on the research funding because the scientists weren't working very hard on the project.

(a) stops
(b) supports
(c) plug
(d) plunger

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #293 "English Slang Idioms (15)", answer 5

The government decided to pull the plug on the research funding because the scientists weren't working very hard on the project.

Correct answer: (c) plug
_________________________

why plug?

Chahra

[Alan]

Hi,

The meaning of 'pull the plug' means stop or provide no more support for something. A plug is at the end of an electrical lead which you put into a power source. If you pull the plug (out) then the supply of electricity stops.

Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Don't bank on it

[R3t3m2]

thank you, Alan.
I came across this 'pull the plug' and did not know the meaning and could not find its meaning in my dictionary. I googled by the 'pull the plug' and there was not definition on the first page of the results. So I searched for 'ESL pull the plug' and the top link brought me here. I was a member already. Thank you and 'english-test'!