From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishpull at/on something phrasal verb1 PULLto take hold of something and pull it several times Mary was pulling nervously at her hair.2 SMOKEto take smoke from a pipe or cigarette into your lungs He pulled hard on the cigarette.3 DFDto take a long drink from a bottle or glass → pull→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
pull at/on • He pulled on a beret and stared down the empty road, then he checked his watch, frowning.• Tom said, adjusting the contrast as Jane Fonda pulled on a pair of nylon panty hose in Klute.• Zena pulled on another stocking and heard his footsteps echoing away up the corridor.• The dark pulled at her sleeves. `... you killed.. ` No.• Jane pulled on her trousers and tied the drawstring.• He stepped into his slippers and pulled on his bathrobe then looked around.• The outcome of this transitional period is unknown, but the forces pushing and pulling at various possibilities can be discerned.• They lay there watching me pull on warm clothes for the trip, making me feel uneasy and a little guilty. 