to pull sth/sb hard, quickly and suddenly; If you yank someone or something somewhere, you pull them there suddenly and with a lot of force.
~ sth/sb (+ adv./prep.)
He yanked her to her feet.
~ sth/sb + adj.
I yanked the door open.
(+ adv./prep.)
Liz yanked at my arm.
利兹猛地拉了一下我的胳膊。