drag on

Idioms  

1. Also, drag out. Prolong or be prolonged tediously. For example, The speech dragged on for another hour, or He dragged out the story in an excruciating manner. [First half of 1800s]

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Example Sentences

When Bernstein was at the White House, he and his colleagues operated with the belief that bad enough consumer sentiment would eventually drag on spending, investment, and growth.

From Barron's • May 27, 2026

Governments in the region are likely to continue or introduce measures, such as fuel subsidies or price caps, to cushion higher energy costs’ drag on borrowers, the analysts say.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 25, 2026

A decision is expected later on Tuesday, but there is the chance it could drag on into Wednesday.

From BBC • May 19, 2026

“Overestimate what healthcare costs and long-term care facilities will cost in the future. The biggest drag on retirement nest eggs in your 80s and 90s is care,” he said.

From MarketWatch • May 19, 2026

Miss Genovese takes one last drag on her cigarette before stamping it out on the ashtray sitting on the table.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse