ENGLISH
REFERENCE

snug

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈsnəɡ// UK //snˈʌɡ// snug

adj. fitting closely and feeling warm, comfortable, and safe. You use this to describe a small space or clothes that fit your body perfectly.

adj. fitting closely or tightly; providing a sense of warmth, comfort, and protection from the cold. Often used to describe small interior spaces or the fit of a garment.


SIMPLE

The children felt snug and warm in their beds.

CONTEXTUAL

The cabin was small, but it felt snug once we lit the fire and closed the curtains against the storm.

COMPLEX

The new hiking boots provide a snug fit around the ankle, preventing any internal movement that might lead to blisters during a long descent.

Synonyms
Origin

From dialectal English snug (“tight, handsome”), perhaps from Old Norse snøggr, from Proto-Germanic *snawwuz (“short, quick, fast”). Compare Icelandic snöggur (“smooth”), Danish snög (“neat”), Swedish snygg (“handsome, nice-looking”). Compare also English snudge (“to nestle, remain snug and quiet”).

Usage

Often used predicatively after 'feel' or 'be', or attributively before nouns like 'fit', 'cabin', or 'sweater'.

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