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Chug vs Chew - What's the difference?

chug | chew |

As nouns the difference between chug and chew

is that chug is a dull, fairly quick explosive or percussive sound, as if made by a labouring engine while chew is a small sweet, such as a taffy, that is eaten by chewing.

As verbs the difference between chug and chew

is that chug is to make dull explosive sounds while chew is to crush with the teeth by repeated closing and opening of the jaws; done to food to soften it and break it down by the action of saliva before it is swallowed.

chug

English

Etymology 1

Onomatopoeia

Noun

(en noun)
  • A dull, fairly quick explosive or percussive sound, as if made by a labouring engine.
  • A large gulp of drink.
    • He drank his beer in three chugs .
  • A homemade Cuban boat, built to carry emigrants to the USA, and often abandoned upon arrival.

    • Verb

  • To make dull explosive sounds.
  • To move or travel whilst making such sounds.
    • We were chugging along a back road when the engine cut out.
  • (slang) to drink a large amount (especially of beer) in a single action; to chugalug.
    • I can't believe he chugged three beers.
    Synonyms
    * (drink) See also

    Etymology 2

    blend of chihuahua and pug

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A dog; a cross between a pug and a chihuahua.

    • Etymology 3

    blend of charity and mug

    Verb

  • (transitive, UK slang, derogatory) To solicit charitable donations on the street, particularly in a persistent manner.
    • I got chugged in the town centre today.

    Etymology 4

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (pejorative, racial slur) A person of Native American descent.
    • English onomatopoeias

    chew

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To crush with the teeth by repeated closing and opening of the jaws; done to food to soften it and break it down by the action of saliva before it is swallowed.
    • Make sure to chew thoroughly, and don't talk with your mouth full!
    The steak was tough to chew as it had been cooked too long.
  • To grind, tear, or otherwise degrade or demolish something with teeth or as with teeth.
    • He keep his feed in steel drums to prevent the mice from chewing holes in the feed-sacks.
    The harsh desert wind and sand had chewed the stump into ragged strips of wood.
  • (informal) To think about something; to ponder; to chew over.
    • The professor stood at the blackboard, chalk in hand, and chewed the question the student had asked.
  • * Alexander Pope
    • Old politicians chew wisdom past.
  • * Prior
    • He chews revenge, abjuring his offense.

    Synonyms

    * (crush food with teeth prior to swallowing) bite, chavel, chomp, crunch, masticate * (degrade or demolish as if with teeth) grind, pulverize, rip, shred, tear * (think about) contemplate, ruminate, mull, muse, ponder * See also

    Derived terms

    * chewing gum * chew out * chew over * chew the cud * chew the fat * chew the scenery * chew up * chewy

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A small sweet, such as a taffy, that is eaten by chewing.
    • Phillip purchased a bag of licorice chews at the drugstore.
  • (informal, uncountable) Chewing tobacco.
    • The school had banned chew and smokes from the school grounds, even for adults.
  • (countable, or, uncountable) A plug or wad of chewing tobacco; chaw or a chaw.
    • ''The ballplayers sat on the bench watching the rain, glumly working their chews .
    The first time he chewed tobacco, he swallowed his chew and got extremely sick.

    Derived terms

    * chew toy * penny chew