Tug also suggests that it was pulled just once for a short time • the little girl was tugging her mother's sleeve, trying to get her attention It could mean someone is playing with your sleeve (fidgeting) or trying to get your attention.
Chilling with no makeup on [F] : GoneMild
To pull or yank on someone or something vigorously or repeatedly
Yes, we can go see the lion enclosure now, stop tugging at me like that
The tractor tugged at the car, but it still wouldn't budge from the ditch To demand or require someone's attention, especially urgently or incessantly. For example, you pull (at) your brother's sleeve if you want him to pay attention to a friend who is getting closer In this case, the gesture is physical, it is like a nudge, but instead of pushing, it's about pulling (the sleeve).
Noun he felt a gentle tug on his sleeve Gave the man in front a tug on his shirtsleeve as a sign that he was supposed to step aside Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage If you tug something, you pull on it and it moves
You might tug a rope three times to give someone a signal
If you tug at something, you pull on it and nothing happen You tug at someone's sleeve, the sleeve doesn't go anywhere. Definition of tug verb from the oxford advanced learner's dictionary [intransitive, transitive] to pull something hard, often several times
Tug (at/on something) she tugged at his sleeve to get his attention Tug something the baby was tugging her hair He tugged the door open. To pull something quickly and usually with a lot of force
A boat with a powerful engine…
He tugged at the stuck suitcase handle, hoping it would finally open The toddler tugged on her mother's sleeve, trying to get her attention. I felt someone tugging on/at my sleeve She tugged the cord until the plug came out of the wall socket
He felt a gentle tug on his sleeve The tug of urban life drew him from his country home and into the city.