tug
verb /tʌɡ/
/tʌɡ/
Verb Forms
Idioms | present simple I / you / we / they tug | /tʌɡ/ /tʌɡ/ |
| he / she / it tugs | /tʌɡz/ /tʌɡz/ |
| past simple tugged | /tʌɡd/ /tʌɡd/ |
| past participle tugged | /tʌɡd/ /tʌɡd/ |
| -ing form tugging | /ˈtʌɡɪŋ/ /ˈtʌɡɪŋ/ |
- [intransitive, transitive] to pull something hard, often several times
- tug (at/on something) She tugged at his sleeve to get his attention.
- tug something The baby was tugging her hair.
- tug something + adj. He tugged the door open.
Extra Examples- Alexis was up in a flash, tugging on his arm.
- She playfully tugged at his shirt.
- He tugged harder, but it was caught fast.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- gently
- lightly
- hard
- …
- at
- by
- on
- …
- [transitive] tug something/somebody + adv./prep. to pull something/somebody hard in a particular direction
- He tugged the hat down over his head.
Synonyms pullpull- drag
- draw
- haul
- tow
- tug
- pull to hold something and move it in a particular direction; to hold or be attached to a vehicle and move it along behind you:
- Pull the chair nearer the table.
- They use oxen to pull their carts.
- drag to pull somebody/something in a particular direction or behind you, usually along the ground, and especially with effort:
- The sack is too heavy to lift—you’ll have to drag it.
- draw (formal) to move somebody/something by pulling them/it gently; to pull a vehicle such as a carriage:
- I drew my chair closer to the fire.
- a horse-drawn carriage
- haul to pull somebody/something to a particular place with a lot of effort:
- Fishermen were hauling in their nets.
- tow to pull a car, boat or light plane behind another vehicle, using a rope or chain:
- Our car was towed away by the police.
- tug to pull somebody/something hard in a particular direction:
- She tried to escape but he tugged her back.
- to pull/drag/draw/haul/tow/tug somebody/something along/down/towards something
- to pull/drag/draw/haul/tow somebody/something behind you
- to pull/drag/draw/haul a cart/sledge
- to pull/draw a coach/carriage
- to pull/haul/tow a truck
- horses pull/draw/haul something
- dogs pull/drag/haul something
Extra Examples- She tried to escape but he tugged her back.
- His mother was tugging him along by the hand.
- Annie appeared, tugging her little sister by the arm.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- gently
- lightly
- hard
- …
- at
- by
- on
- …
Word OriginMiddle English: from the base of tow.
Idioms
touch/tug your forelock (to somebody)
- (British English, disapproving) to show too much respect for somebody of a higher class, especially because you are anxious about what they think of you
