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Schlep
01
a tedious or difficult journey
Grammatical Information
Animacy status
Abstract
Composition
Simple
Countable
Plural form
schleps
02
(Yiddish) an awkward and stupid person
to schlep
01
(New York) to carry, drag, or haul something, especially when it's heavy or inconvenient
Slang
Grammatical Information
Composition
Simple
Movement verb
Regular
Present tense
schlep
3rd person singular
schleps
Present participle
schlepping
Past simple
schlepped
Past participle
schlepped
What does "to schlep" mean in New York slang?
The structure is a simple verb borrowed from Yiddish "shlepn" (to pull or drag), brought into English through Jewish communities in New York. It is used to describe carrying, dragging, or hauling something, especially when it's heavy, awkward, or inconvenient, often with a sense of effort or annoyance. People typically say "I had to schlep these groceries up five flights" or "Don't make me schlep all the way across town."
Examples
I had to schlep these groceries up three flights of stairs.
