tug

tug — verb

1. to give something a short, strong pull, often using sudden force and some effort

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveB1
Definition

to give something a short, strong pull, often using sudden force and some effort

Example

Vikram tugged hard on the rope until the anchor came free from the mud.

tug + adverb + on + noun phrase

Xiu tugged her younger brother's sleeve to get his attention during the concert.

tug + possessive + noun phrase (transitive)

Common collocations
  • tug at
  • tug on
  • tug + adverb (hard, gently, firmly)
Synonyms
  • pull

    more general; tug implies a shorter, sharper effort

  • yank

    stronger and more sudden than tug; often informal

  • jerk

    a quick, sharp movement that may be accidental or aggressive

  • haul

    pulling something heavy over a distance, not a short sharp movement

Antonyms
  • push

    opposite direction of force

  • release

    letting go instead of pulling

Grammar Patterns

tug + noun phrase

tug + at + noun phrase

Usage Note

Often followed by 'at' (intransitive) when the object does not fully move or when the tugging is repeated.

Common Mistakes

She tugged the door.
She tugged at the door.
When the object does not move as a result, 'tug at' is more natural than 'tug' alone.
He tugged the bag through the airport.
He dragged the bag through the airport.
'Tug' suggests a short, sharp pull; 'drag' is for pulling something along a surface over a distance.
Idioms

touch/tug your forelock (to somebody)

idiom

To behave in a way that shows too much respect to someone in a higher position, often because you are worried about their opinion.

The new intern tugged his forelock to the CEO every morning.

Why do you always touch your forelock to the manager like that?

tug — noun

tug — noun

Word family

  • tugboat
    nounB2
  • tugging
    nounB2
  • tug-of-war
    nounB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

Pull is the broadest word, covering any movement toward yourself. Tug adds the idea of a short, sharp effort — you tug when the object resists or when you need sudden force. Yank is more forceful and less gentle than tug, often used for snapping something free. Jerk suggests a quick, possibly accidental movement that may be rough. Haul and drag both involve moving something heavy over a distance: haul often implies effort over time (hauling a net), while drag suggests friction against a surface (dragging a suitcase). A tug is typically a single, brief action; dragging is continuous. For example: 'She tugged at the drawer handle twice before it opened' — but 'She dragged the suitcase down the hallway.'

pull ↗yankjerk ↗hauldrag ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • tug of war
  • give something a tug

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishGermanicEnglish

The verb 'tug' comes from Old English 'tēon' (meaning 'to pull, draw, or drag'), which is related to Old Norse 'toga' and German 'ziehen' — all tracing back to an ancient Germanic root meaning 'to pull.' The noun sense of a tugboat emerged in the early 1800s as a short form of 'tugboat,' referring to the vessel's job of towing larger ships.