tug (redirected from tugging)

tug at someone or something

to pull at someone or something. Stop tugging at me! I'll talk to you in a minute. The dog tugged at my pants cuff.

tug away (at something)

to pull hard at something; to haul something. She tugged away at the rope, but the anchor would not budge. No matter how much she tugged away, it didn't move.

See also: away

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forelock-tugging  (British)

showing too much respect towards someone who is in a high position As the General marched in, the collective forelock-tugging began.

tear/tug at your heartstrings  also tear/tug at the heartstrings

if something or someone tugs at your heartstrings, they make you feel strong love or sympathy It's the story of a lost child - guaranteed to tug at the heartstrings.

See also: heartstring, tear

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tug at your heartstrings also pull on your heartstrings

to cause strong feelings of affection or sympathy He looked into his son's smiling eyes and felt a tug on his heartstrings.

Usage notes: sometimes used with other verbs: The stories he told plucked at your heartstrings.

See also: heartstring