Pull someone across the pond (4)

I believe the answer is:

yank

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'pull' is the definition.
(I know that yank is a type of pull)

I don't understand the rest of the clue.

(Other definitions for yank that I've seen before include "Countryman" , "Term for an American" , "Pull hard suddenly" , "pluck" , "Sharp tug" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sun and The Telegraph.

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