chug away

Definitions

1. 1

   To move away at a slow, steady pace, especially if making chugging noises.

   • Locked in such musings as her train chugged away from New York City, the fourteen-year-old suddenly felt overwhelmed with longing for her own family.
   • The crowd began to sing “Abide With Me”, troops and families sang, young and old, their hearts breaking, hankies waving as the big ship chugged away from the dock.
   • “You taking that thing?” I asked. pointing to the car that chugged away.
2. 2

   To operate continuously, especially if making a low mechanical noise.

   • Next to the baseball bats in the garage, a spare refrigerator cooled cases of beer and soda, and a commercial-grade icemaker chugged away.
   • The mayor opened a chest freezer that chugged away in one corner and removed several cans of orange soda, one at a time, and handed them to the visitors.
   • The diesel generators chugged away.
3. 3

   To work at something in a steady, dogged manner.

   • You mustn't let the tuna rest, if you aim to ever gaff him alongside. You chug away, lifting with all your strength. Up comes the fish, sulkily at first, fighting every foot.
   • Two years previously, they had won the FA Cup and finished second in the League. They bought me to replace Reg Ryan, a roly-poly midfielder who chugged and chugged away, because they needed someone with fresher legs.
4. ›+ 1 more definitionshow fewer

   1. 4

      To drink down steadily in large gulps.

      • Remember kosher wine gets you just as drunk as the nonkosher stuff; so chug away, fellow Jews, chug away.
      • The man chugged away on his bottle.
      • And with that, Bob raised his glass, clinked with countless others, and chugged away.

The neighborhood