chug
/tʃʌg/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- A short, dull, explosive sound, typically made by an engine or machine operating at a slow, steady pace.
Verb (intransitive):
- To make a series of short, dull, explosive sounds, often while moving slowly and steadily.
Usage and Examples
Noun:
- The steady chug of the old tractor could be heard across the field.
- We fell asleep to the comforting chug of the train.
Verb:
- The little boat chugged across the lake.
- The old car chugged up the steep hill.
Advanced Usage
- "to chug along": To continue moving or functioning slowly but steadily.
- Despite the problems, the project continues to chug along.
- Describing rhythmic, laborious sound or motion:
- His heart chugged in his chest after the sprint.
Variants and Related Words
- Chugging (gerund/noun): The action or sound of making a chug.
- The constant chugging of the generator was annoying.
Synonyms
- Noun: Puff, throb, putt.
- Verb: Puff, putter, churn.
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Chug along: To proceed slowly and steadily.
- The negotiations are just chugging along without any major breakthroughs.
- Chug down/back (informal, different meaning): To drink a beverage, especially beer, quickly and in large gulps.
- He chugged down his water after the workout. (Note: This is an informal, idiomatic extension of the verb.)
Related Idioms
- "Like a chugging engine": Used to describe something that operates or progresses with slow, steady, and relentless effort.
- The committee worked like a chugging engine to finish the report on time.
Noun
- the dull explosive noise made by an engine
Verb
- make a dull, explosive sound
- the engine chugged down the street