lug

To lug something means to carry it with considerable effort, often because it's heavy, bulky, or unwieldy. It implies a struggle against weight and awkwardness. Imagine a construction worker lugging beams of wood across a building site, or a student lugging textbooks home after a long day at school. The act isn't about elegance; it's about sheer determination to move something difficult from one place to another.

The word often suggests a lack of convenience. You wouldn't say you lugged a light grocery bag – you simply carried it. But if you're hauling boxes out of storage, or dragging a heavy piece of furniture across the floor, then "lug" is the perfect verb.

Figuratively, "lug" can also describe carrying burdens that aren't physical. People might lug around feelings of guilt, resentment, or sadness – emotional weights that are difficult to shake off.

So whether it's a suitcase, a piece of furniture, or an emotional weight, to lug something is to carry it with effort and strain, often suggesting a challenging or inconvenient task.