Pull (something) off

If you pull something off, you are able to do something considered impossible or difficult. You overcome an obstacle to reach your goal despite the improbability. You have an unexpected victory or success.

1.  In the last Olympic Games held in Beijing, the swimmer Michael Phelps won 8 gold medals in total. He had planned to break Mark Spitz’ previous record of 7 gold medals set in Munich in 1972. Many were wondering if he could really pull it off, especially when he had to come from behind to win his 7th medal. It was really close, but he pulled it off: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCmQd-FLbvw

2. In the movie “Blood Diamond”, Leonardo DiCaprio pulled off a good South African English accent, which is not easy for foreign actors: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3g2QE4Kn4m0

3. Is there anything difficult that you would like to do, buy you don’t know if you can pull it off?

4. Tae-kwon-do master, Ali Bahcetepe, smashed 317 bricks in a single minute for a world record. It is incredible that he was able to pull it off: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_i2mnvZS98Q