snug

Warm, comfortable, and protected from cold or bad weather.

• I felt snug under the blanket.
• Their little cottage was snug and warm.
• Are you snug enough in that sleeping bag?

Similar words: cosy, cozy

Opposites: uncomfortable

Common phrases: snug and warm, snug little room, feel snug

Fitting closely around something, with little space left.

• These gloves are a snug fit.
• The lid should be snug, but easy to remove.
• Her jacket was snug around the waist.

How to use it: snug around something (The belt is snug around my waist.)

Similar words: close-fitting, tight

Opposites: loose

Common phrases: snug fit, snug jacket, snug around something

Good enough to meet your needs or expectations.

• He earned a snug income from his shop.
• She put aside a snug little sum.
• The business brought them a snug profit.

Similar words: satisfactory, adequate

Opposites: unsatisfactory

Common phrases: snug income, snug little sum

Hidden in a quiet, sheltered place where people are unlikely to notice it.

• They found a snug retreat behind the trees.
• The house stood in a snug corner of the valley.
• His snug hiding place escaped notice.

Similar words: secluded, concealed

Opposites: exposed

Common phrases: snug retreat, snug corner

A small, comfortable room at the back of a pub.

• We sat in the snug.
• The pub has a snug with a fireplace.
• They booked the snug for a quiet drink.

Common phrases: pub snug, in the snug, cosy snug

A small piece sticking out from a part, used to hold or connect it.

• The snug fits into the slot.
• A small snug holds the bracket in place.
• The mechanic checked the snugs on the casting.

Similar words: lug

Common phrases: metal snug, fixing snug

To tighten or arrange something so it fits closely and stays safely in place.

• Snug the nut down gently.
• She snugged the rope around the load.
• The mechanic snugged up each bolt.

How to use it: snug something up/down (Snug the screws down before checking the frame.)

Similar words: tighten, secure

Opposites: loosen

Common phrases: snug something down, snug something up

To settle close to someone or something in a comfortable position.

• The child snugged against her mother.
• We snugged under the blankets.
• He snugged closer to the warm stove.

How to use it: snug against someone/something (The puppy snugged against my leg.)

Similar words: snuggle, nestle

Common phrases: snug against someone, snug under something