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

See Examples For:

drag on

Higher borrowing costs are a drag on economic growth and can weigh on equity prices.

From Barron's ● Sep. 9, 2026

Economists question if China’s reflation can be sustained as a property slump continues to drag on domestic demand.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026

"Uncertainty in the planning system is a drag on economic growth, investment and infrastructure delivery. In the City, where schemes are complex, constrained and require significant upfront investment, that doubt is especially damaging."

From BBC ● Sep. 6, 2026

“Family conflict is more likely to occur, probate can drag on for months or years and take a big bite out of your estate’s value,” the law firm adds.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 3, 2026

The man took a long drag on his pipe, exhaled, and said, “Who wants to know?”

From "The Marvels" by Brian Selznick