slug
C1Informal (mollusc, blow, drink), Technical (physics, printing), Neutral (bullet, journalism)
Definition
Meaning
A terrestrial mollusc with a soft, slimy body and no external shell.
1) A single, solid bullet (not part of a shot). 2) A heavy blow or punch. 3) A unit of mass in the imperial system (approx. 32.2 lb). 4) A line of type in printing, or a short, identifying phrase in journalism. 5) To hit hard or trudge heavily. 6) To consume a drink quickly in one gulp.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Noun meanings are predominantly countable (e.g., 'a slug', 'three slugs'). The verb 'to slug' (meaning to hit) is more common in AmE; the verb 'to slug' (meaning to drink) is idiomatic and informal. The physics unit is archaic but still used in specific engineering contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Verb 'to slug' (to hit hard) is more frequent and natural in AmE. BrE speakers are more likely to use 'punch' or 'thump'. The printing/journalism sense is universal in professional circles. The sense of a solid bullet is shared.
Connotations
In both, the mollusc connotes sliminess and slow movement, often negative. As a unit of mass (physics), it is technical and has no strong cultural connotation.
Frequency
The mollusc sense is the most frequent in everyday conversation in both varieties. The 'heavy blow/punch' sense is more common in AmE sports journalism. The 'drink quickly' sense is informal and equally understood.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[V] slug + [NP] (He slugged the ball.)[V] slug + [AdvP] (They slugged away at the problem.)[V] slug + [NP] + [PP] (He slugged the whiskey from the bottle.)[NP] + [V] (The boxers slugged.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “slug it out (to fight or compete until a decisive result)”
- “take a slug at (to attempt to hit; to try something difficult)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in printing/publishing ('story slug').
Academic
Used in physics/engineering (unit of mass). In biology for gastropods.
Everyday
Primarily for the garden pest and for a quick drink of alcohol.
Technical
Physics (mass), Printing (type line), Journalism (identifier), Ballistics (bullet).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He threatened to slug the intruder.
- I watched him slug back the pint in one go.
- The team continued to slug away at the tedious data entry.
American English
- The batter slugged the ball over the fence.
- She slugged down her espresso before the meeting.
- The two candidates are set to slug it out in the final debate.
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverbial form.)
American English
- (No standard adverbial form.)
adjective
British English
- (Rare as a true adjective, used in compounds) slug pellets, a slug-infested garden.
American English
- (Rare as a true adjective, used in compounds) a slug gun, a slug-fest match.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I found a slug in the garden.
- He took a big slug of water.
- The old printer used metal slugs for typesetting.
- After the argument, they decided to just slug it out on the football pitch.
- In imperial engineering, mass is sometimes measured in slugs, not pounds.
- The journalist added a descriptive slug to the top of her article file.
- The forensic analysis confirmed the bullet was a single, unjacketed lead slug.
- Despite the market volatility, the two companies continued to slug it out for dominance.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
A SLUG is SLimy and moves like it's carrying a heavy bLUg (a heavy object).
Conceptual Metaphor
SLOW/HEAVY MOVEMENT IS A SLUG ('The project is slugging along.'); A QUICK CONSUMPTION IS A SLUG ('He slugged his coffee.'); VIOLENT COMPETITION IS A SLUGFEST.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'слизняк' (only the mollusc sense). 'Slug' as a bullet is not 'пуля' but 'цельная пуля' or 'снаряд'. 'To slug' (hit) is not 'улиткать', but 'сильно ударить'. 'Slug' as a unit has no direct equivalent.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'slug' to mean a regular bullet (cartridge) instead of a single, solid projectile. Using 'slug' as a verb for drinking in formal contexts. Confusing 'slug' (unit) with 'pound'.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'slug' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, calling a person a 'slug' implies they are lazy, slow-moving, or slimy (untrustworthy).
A snail has a conspicuous external shell it can retract into, while a slug either has no shell or a very small, internal one.
It depends on the sense. The printing, journalism, and physics senses are standard in formal technical writing. The mollusc sense is fine in biology. The 'punch' or 'drink quickly' senses are informal.
Yes, particularly in American English in sports (boxing, baseball) and political commentary to describe a fierce, protracted contest.