pug

Everyday

1. A pug is a small dog with a flat, wrinkly face, a curly tail and short fur, usually pale brown with a black face, or all black. tree →
2. (old slang) «Pug» was once a short word for a boxer (from «pugilist»). tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life pugs are popular pets. In science and animal-welfare talk, pugs are an example of how breeding for flat faces can cause breathing problems, so owners must keep them cool and not let them get too tired. Phrases: «a pug dog», «a pug nose» (a short, turned-up nose).

Examples

• Our neighbour's pug snores very loudly. tree →
• The pug wagged its curly tail. tree →
• Pugs can overheat on hot days, so walk them in the cool morning. tree →
• He has a pug nose, short and turned up. tree →
• Flat-faced dogs like pugs can find it hard to breathe. tree →
• The pug wore a little coat in the snow. tree →
• My friend named her pug Biscuit. tree →
• In the meantime, there arrived from the next town a lady; she had a pug dog with her, and came, she said, to dispose of shares in her tan-yard. tree →

Note

Countable: a pug, pugs. «Pug nose» means a short, turned-up nose. Pugs originally came from China and were later loved in Europe.