foot-dragging

Or foot·drag·ging

[foot-drag-ing]

noun

1. reluctance or failure to proceed or act promptly.

Word History and Origins

Origin of foot-dragging¹

First recorded in 1945–50; from the verb phrase drag one's feet

Example Sentences

I know not everyone is an experienced dog handler – but I can't begin to imagine how anyone could fail to notice the obvious discomfort, the heavy panting, the foot-dragging and laboured breathing in direct sunlight that had us reaching for our iced-water bottles.

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The number of Asian American hate crimes rose by 145% over the next year, while Trump’s foot-dragging response to the pandemic and xenophobic terminology had lethal ripples around the world that we’re still contending with today.

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"We need to see faster action from the government and not this foot-dragging... because if nature suffers then humanity suffers as well."

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On the other hand, it's possible that he could so badly alienate and disenfranchise the military that previous inter-service rivalry might give way to collusive stonewalling, foot-dragging and outright opposition that, in more ordinary times, would be considered soft-focus rebellion.

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The Jan. 5 ceremony was far from the tired, foot-dragging telecast that it was expected to be.

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Related Words

• barrier 
• deterrent 
• drawback 
• handicap 
• hitch 
• impediment 
• interference 
• interruption 
• obstacle 
• snag 
• stumbling block