to chug

Examples

• All

• A toy steam engine now chugs along tracks laid around the perimeter of Jack's room.

  Fiction book (1993)

• As it chugs along, the process repeats, and soon a score of identical sofas is in view.

  Fiction book (1994)

• I presume the vinyl thing will chug along for a good long while.

  Blog text (26)

• A fishing boat chugs past the breakwater.

  Fiction book (2002)

• Jumping into the seat, he guns the forklift and chugs forward.

  Fiction book (1997)

• Overhead, twin helicopters fly northwest and three others chug north in a pyramid formation.

  Fiction book (1995)

• Alone, the big machine chugs its way forward, vanishing into the gloom.

  Fiction book (2002)

• A water bus chugs dockside as passengers board for the trip across the inlet.

  Fiction book (1998)

• Trio A chugs along like a well-running, if slightly quirky, machine.

  Academic text (1999)

• The old truck began to chug loudly as it struggled up the steep hill.

Synonyms

S

to sputter

vsto chug

15 4.6

To make short explosive sounds when a machine does not run smoothly

produces steady rhythmic dull explosions rather than irregular failing sounds

G

to grumble

vsto chug

7 3.7

To make a long low sound like distant thunder

outputs series of dull rhythmic explosive noises rather than continuous hums

C

to clunk

vsto chug

4 6.5

To make a heavy, dull sound when something hits or moves

makes repeated rhythmic dull explosive noises rather than isolated heavy impacts

C

to chuff

vsto chug

2 8.8

To make a puffing sound like a steam train or breathing hard

makes dull rhythmic explosive sounds rather than loud puffing blasts

C

to chug down

vsto chug

5.7

Move slowly and steadily, making a regular puffing sound like an old train

focuses on producing dull rhythmic explosive sounds rather than just steady motion

Idioms

P

to plug and chug

• Informal

8.2

To find an answer by putting numbers into an equation and doing the math

Phrasal Verbs

C

to chug coffee

• Informal

1 5.9

To drink coffee quickly in big gulps to wake up

C

to chug down

5.7

Move slowly and steadily, making a regular puffing sound like an old train

How Loud

to roar

98 1.0

to rumble

• Literature

84 2.5

to chug

11 5.1

to hum

49 1.0

to whisper

586 1.0

Surface Forms

Etymology