lug
/lʌɡ/ (bre, ipa) · /lʌɡ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈləg/ (ame, mw)
lug — verb
- lugpresent simple I / you / we / they
- lugshe / she / it
- luggedpast simple
- lugging-ing form
1. to carry, pull, or drag something that is heavy or awkward, using a lot of physi
to carry, pull, or drag something that is heavy or awkward, using a lot of physical effort because moving it is hard work.
Mauricio lugged a large suitcase up four flights of stairs to his new apartment.
lug + heavy object + up/down + place: typical pattern of moving baggage with effort
Every morning, Trang lugs a heavy bag of textbooks across the campus to her library job.
habitual present: lug + heavy + (object) + across/through + place
The movers lugged the old piano out of the truck and into the living room.
Zuri did not want to lug her camping gear all the way to the bus station by herself.
Christopher complained that he had to lug six bottles of water back from the shop.
文法句型
lug + object
lug + object + (preposition + place)
用法筆記
Object is almost always something heavy, bulky, or awkward (a suitcase, equipment, groceries, furniture). Often paired with a direction phrase (up the stairs, across town, back home) to show the effort of moving it.
常見錯誤
lug — noun
- lugsingular
- lugsplural
1. a short piece that sticks out from the side of an object, often used as a handle
a short piece that sticks out from the side of an object, often used as a handle for carrying it, as a fixing point for a bolt or wire, or as a ridge that gives extra grip.
The large cooking pot had two metal lugs on the sides that worked as handles.
noun pattern: lug + on/of + parent object; concrete pot-handle example
Mira tightened each wheel lug with a special wrench before driving down the mountain road.
automotive: lug = lug nut securing a wheel
The hiking boots had deep rubber lugs on the soles for grip on muddy paths.
Zayd soldered the red wire to the small brass lug at the back of the speaker.
- handle
more general; a 'lug' is usually small and projects from the side
- projection
more technical and abstract
- tab
flat and thin; a 'lug' is usually thicker
文法句型
a/the lug on/of + noun
用法筆記
Common in practical contexts (cookware, cars, boots, electronics). The specific shape and purpose come from context: a pot has lugs as handles, a wheel has lugs as nuts, a sole has lugs as ridges.
2. a man who is large, slow, or clumsy, and seems a bit foolish — used with mild af
a man who is large, slow, or clumsy, and seems a bit foolish — used with mild affection between friends, or with mild scorn.
Ishaan is a kind man, but he can be a real lug when it comes to dancing at parties.
predicative: be + a + lug; affectionate-friendly tone
That big lug in the back row stepped on my foot three times during the wedding speech.
demonstrative + big + lug: typical critical use
Liam smiled and called his older brother a great lug for forgetting the birthday cake again.
The two lugs on the football team always sat at the back of the classroom and laughed too loudly.
文法句型
a/that + (big/great/awkward) + lug
用法筆記
Almost always refers to a man, and almost always with a size adjective such as 'big', 'great', or 'large'. Tone depends entirely on the speaker's relationship — between friends it is teasing, but said about a stranger it sounds rude.
常見錯誤
3. an ear, especially the ear of a person or animal — an old-fashioned word that is
an ear, especially the ear of a person or animal — an old-fashioned word that is now used mostly in regional English, particularly in Scotland and northern England.
The old shepherd gently pulled the lug of the lamb to check if it was healthy.
regional/old-fashioned use: lug = animal ear
Rania's grandmother in Glasgow always told her to wash behind her lugs after playing in the garden.
Scottish English: behind one's lugs
When Lucas was small, his uncle would tug his lug as a joke whenever he told a tall story.
Piotr could feel the cold wind biting his lugs as he walked across the fields at dawn.
文法句型
a/the lug + (of someone/animal)
用法筆記
Sounds dated or strongly regional in modern English. Standard speakers say 'ear'; you will mostly hear 'lug' from older speakers, in Scottish or northern English dialects, or in fixed expressions about washing behind your ears.
4. a friendly word used by some British speakers when speaking to a man they like,
a friendly word used by some British speakers when speaking to a man they like, similar to saying 'mate' or 'pal' — often combined with 'old' or 'big'.
Mia clapped Felix on the shoulder and said, "Come on, you old lug, the pub is closing soon."
vocative use after 'you old'; pub setting clarifies friendly tone
"Cheer up, you big lug," Théo said to his cousin after the football match they had just lost.
comforting use after a defeat; vocative 'you big lug'
Élise greeted her older brother at the airport with a hug and a loud, "Hello, you lovely lug!"
Minho laughed and called his teammate a hopeless lug after watching him miss another easy goal.
文法句型
(my/you old) lug as a vocative
用法筆記
Used to address or describe a male friend in a warm, joking way — usually with a softening adjective ('old', 'big', 'lovely') that signals affection. Without that adjective, it shades into sense 2 (clumsy man).