Definition of tug - Reverso English Dictionary
Verb
1.
pull sharplytr. pull something with a sharp or sudden motiontr.
- She tugged the rope to signal the start..
2.
physical actiontr./intr. pull or drag with great efforttr./intr.
- He tugged the rope with all his strength.
3.
maritimetr. Rare tow a vessel by tugboattr. Rare
- The tugboat tugged the ship into the harbor.
4.
- He went to his room to tug.
Noun
1.
movementsudden powerful pull or jerk
- He felt a tug on his sleeve.
2.
petsUS dog toy made of knotted ropeUS
- The dog played with its tug happily.
3.
nauticalsmall powerful boat for towing ships
- The tug helped the ship dock safely.
4.
- He joked about needing a quick tug.
Images of tug
dog toy made of knotted rope 
small powerful boat for towing ships
Expressions with tug
💡 Discover popular phrases, idioms, collocations, or phrasal verbs. Click any expression to learn more, listen to its pronunciation, or save it to your favorites.
pull something quickly and sharply
She tugged at the rope to test its strength.
game where teams pull on a rope
The school held a tug of war during sports day.
stir affection or compassion, creating a powerful inner reaction
Stories about rescued pets always tug at the heartstrings.
cause strong feelings of sympathy or sadness
The movie's ending really tugged at my heartstrings.
emotionally move or affect someone deeply
The movie's sad ending tugged at my heartstrings.
cause strong feelings of sympathy or tenderness
The movie's ending really tugged my heartstrings.
conflict over custody of a child
The tug-of-love ended with shared custody.
show excessive respect or submission to someone
The intern would always tug his forelock whenever the director walked past.
row a boat with effort
The fishermen tug the oar to reach the shore.
struggle or contest between opposing forces
The tug and pull between the two teams was intense.
Origin of tug
Old Norse, tog (pull)
Terms with tug included in their meaning
💡 A powerful way to uncover related words, idioms, and expressions linked by the same idea — and explore meaning beyond exact word matches.
quick tug
exert force suddenly to move something towards oneself
tug
give a quick unpleasant tug or shake
gentle tug
tug or pluck gently with fingers
emotion
tug at someone's emotions or feelings
physical action
gnaw or tug at something repeatedly
physical action
grab and tug someone's ear with your hand
acr: articulated tug and barge
tug and barge connected to move together
machinery
machine designed to pull or tug objects
Examples of tug in a sentence
The fisherman tugged the line, hoping for a catch. She tugged at the heavy curtains. The dog tugged on its leash excitedly. They had to tug the barge through the narrow canal. The crew prepared to tug the damaged vessel to safety. He decided to tug before going to sleep.
Feeling stressed, he took a moment to tug. A tug on the rope signaled the start. The tug on the fishing line was strong. She bought a new tug for her puppy. The tug was frayed from constant use. The tug was ready to assist the large vessel. A tug was needed to guide the barge through the canal. He mentioned needing a private tug. A quick tug was all he needed.
View all translations of tug
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:arracher, tiraillement, ...
- German:ziehen, Ruck, ...
- Italian:tirare, strattone, ...
- Spanish:tirar, tirón, ...
- Portuguese:puxar, puxão, ...
- Chinese:猛拉, 拉扯, ...
- Japanese:引っ張る, 引っ張り, ...
- Arabic:شَدَّ, جذب, ...
- Hebrew:לִמְשׁוֹךְ, מְשִׁיכָה, ...
- Russian:тянуть, рывок, ...
- Ukrainian:смикати, ривок, ...
- Hindi:झटका देकर खींचना, झटका, ...
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