manhandle
/ˈmanhand(ə)l
/verb [with object]
1Move (a heavy object) by hand with great effort: men used to manhandle the piano down the stairs...
- Signalmen, more used to manhandling the heavy levers of Victorian signal boxes, have begun controlling one of the area's busiest junctions with the click of a mouse.
- On such occasions his friends and colleagues would come to his rescue, up to six of them manhandling his heavy wheelchair.
- This was no easy task since the heavy howitzers were not ‘fast movers,’ having to be manhandled with great effort every time a displacement was ordered.
Synonyms
heave, haul, push, shove;
pull, tug, drag, move, carry, lift, manoeuvre
informal hump, lug
1.1Handle (someone) roughly by dragging or pushing: we were spat on, sworn at, and manhandled...
- We were roughly manhandled and told to stand facing the wall with our hands behind our heads.
- The family, nonetheless, laid a charge of assault against the security officer, alleging that he grabbed Williamson and manhandled him.
- He regarded me with infuriating calm, grabbed my wrists, and manhandled me into the car.
Synonyms
jostle, shove, hustle, handle roughly, push, pull;
maltreat, ill-treat, mistreat, abuse, maul, molest, injure, damage, beat, knock about/around, batter
informal paw, beat up, rough up
North American informal roust
