Schlep
Meaning
To carry or haul something heavy or awkward with difficulty, or to make a tedious or difficult journey.
Origin
The word 'schlep' ambles into English from the Yiddish shlepn, meaning 'to drag' or 'to pull,' a term rooted deep in Germanic languages. It arrived on American shores with a wave of Yiddish-speaking immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, carrying with it the very essence of a burdensome task or a difficult, weary journey. From hauling heavy loads to trudging across town, 'schlep' perfectly captures that feeling of resigned effort, quickly becoming a beloved, albeit slightly groaning, part of the American informal lexicon.
Examples
- I had to schlep all my groceries up three flights of stairs after the elevator broke.
- We decided to schlep across town in the pouring rain rather than pay for an overpriced taxi.