destitute. net, pull, “plug away”, pull the plug on, notch

Proverbs 31:8-10 New International Version (NIV)

8 Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
    for the rights of all who are destitute.
9 Speak up and judge fairly;
    defend the rights of the poor and needy.

「為一切孤獨的伸冤」(箴言三十一：8)

「孤獨」，是被人丟棄。

Emmanuel Makender was a destitute war orphan in Kenya 18 years ago. Today he is plugging away at the American dream

Refugees make America stronger

A lesson in American greatness

ECONOMIST.COM

Apple Notches Patent Win Against HTC

Apple netted a victory in its legal dispute with HTC, as an International Trade Commission judge ruled the cellphone maker infringed two Apple patents.

Billionaires Pledge To Spread the Wealth
Bill Gates and Warren Buffett's billionaire challenge has netted 40 tycoons willing to give away at least half of their money.


Iran: That Was a Firecracker
The first site to report that the president survived an assassination attempt has already pulled its story, and official news agencies now say Ahmadinejad's convoy was disrupted by a firecracker set off "to cheer the president."


Search Giant Pulls the Plug on Google Wave
Google Wave, once touted as an eventually replacement to e-mail, is being shuttered at the end of the year. Google will incorporate some of the social networking service's technology into other projects.


plug away

— phrasal verb with plug us ​ /plʌɡ/ verb -gg- › to keep working hard in a determined way, esp. at something that you find difficult: She's been plugging away at that novel for years. (Definition of “plug away” from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

plug away Meaning in the Cambridge English Dictionary

pull
v.intr.

1. To exert force in moving something toward the source of the force.
2. To drink or inhale deeply: pulled on the cold beer with gusto; pull on a cigarette.
3. Nautical. To row a boat.
4. Informal. To express or feel great sympathy or empathy: We're pulling for our new president.

pull the plug on Slang.

1. To stop supporting or bring to an end: pulled the plug on the new art courses.

net

(nĕt) 
adj.

1. Business.
   1. Remaining after all deductions have been made, as for expenses: net profit.
   2. Remaining after tare is deducted: net weight.
2. Ultimate; final: the net result.

n.

1. Business. A net amount, as of profit or weight.
2. The main point; the essence: the net of our discussion.

tr.v., net·ted, net·ting, nets.

1. To bring in or yield as profit.
2. To clear as profit.

[Middle English, elegant, remaining after deductions, from Old French, elegant, and from Old Italian netto, remaining after deductions, both from Latin nitidus, clean, elegant. See neat¹.]

notch
(nŏch) 
n.

1. 1. A V-shaped cut.
   2. Such a cut used for keeping a record.
2. A narrow pass between mountains.
3. Informal. A level or degree: a notch or two higher in quality.

tr.v., notched, notch·ing, notch·es.

1. To cut a notch in.
2. To record by or as if by making notches: notched the score on a stick.
3. Informal. To achieve; score: notched 30 wins in a single season.

[Probably from a notch, alteration of an otch, from French oche, from Old French, from ochier, to notch.]