drug
Past tense of drag: pulled something along.
Also called dragged.
Updated September 21, 2026
drug pronunciation
/DRUHG/
Meaning
In Southern and Appalachian talk, "drug" is how a lot of people say "dragged." You drug a log out of the ditch. The dog drug a deer carcass into the yard. Same action as drag, just the country past tense. Do not confuse it with medicine talk unless the sentence is about pills.
How folks use it
- “We drug that old refrigerator out to the curb Saturday morning.”
- “The dog drug a muddy sock all through the kitchen.”
Origin and etymology
Old English-style strong verb form. The OED tracks "drug" as a past of drag back centuries. Standard school English prefers "dragged," but Southern and Midland speech kept "drug," same family as "clumb" for climbed. Atwood's verb surveys found it all over the South Atlantic states.
Frequently asked questions
Is drug wrong for dragged?
Not in Southern and Appalachian speech. It is the everyday past tense there. Formal writing usually wants dragged.