Meaning & use
slugged
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“slugged” is a form of “slug”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbtransitiveinformal
Hit someone very hard, usually with a closed fist.
Grammar: Takes an object: he slugged the man.
Patterns
- slug someone
- slug someone in the face
The boxer slugged his opponent in the ribs and the crowd roared.
Someone slugged him from behind and he fell to the pavement.
She nearly slugged her brother when he hid her phone.
verbtransitiveinformal
Swallowed a drink in one large gulp, often quickly and without enjoying it.
Grammar: Often used with down or back: he slugged down the water.
Patterns
- slug something down
- slug something back
He slugged the last of his coffee and ran for the bus.
After the race she slugged back a full bottle of water.
The cowboy slugged his whiskey and put the glass down.
verbtransitivesportAmerican
In baseball and similar games, hit the ball with great power.
Grammar: Takes an object: he slugged a homer.
Patterns
- slug a home run
- slug the ball
She slugged a home run over the left-field fence.
The rookie slugged two doubles in the first game.
Rodriguez slugged the ball so hard it left the stadium.
Word forms
| base form | slug |
|---|---|
| third person singular | slugs |
| past participle | slugged |
| -ing form | slugging |
Common combinations
- slugged him in the jaw
- The angry customer slugged him in the jaw.
- slugged it out
- The two teams slugged it out for ninety minutes.
- slugged down a drink
- He slugged down a drink and left the bar.
- slugged a home run
- Maria slugged a home run in the ninth inning.
- slugged back a shot
- She slugged back a shot of espresso before the meeting.
Synonyms and how they differ
- punched
- Punched is the neutral, general word for hitting with a fist, while slugged is more informal and suggests a heavy blow.
- gulped
- Gulped is about swallowing fast and loudly, but it can describe food too, while slugged is mainly for drinks.
- whacked
- Whacked suggests a swinging blow with an object or hand, whereas slugged is more often a fist.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: slugged or slugged (the animal)?
slugged vs slugged (the animal)
A slug is also a garden animal, but the verb slugged is never used for that creature.
Practice
After the long hike, Tom ___ his water in three big swallows.
Choose one answer.
Slugged means drank quickly in large gulps. Sipped and tasted suggest small amounts, and nibbled is used for food.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “slugged”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.