1with object and adverbial of direction Pull (someone or something) along forcefully, roughly, or with difficulty.

1. 1.1 Take (someone) to or from a place or event, despite their reluctance.
   my girlfriend is dragging me off to Rhodes for a week

   Example sentencesExamples

   • A few nights later, he is dragged reluctantly to the theatre, where Clara has the lead, and he is captivated by her.
   • More wine and schmoozing and I meet loads of lovely people until my girlfriend dutifully drags me home at 1am.
   • Some of them no doubt wonder whether we are the sort of parents who drag their children from one important cultural event to another, no matter how bored they are.
   • Like a mad tugboat, my friend Michael nonetheless seemed eager to drag me to the event.
   • It also meant that, as her best friend, I was usually dragged to whatever event that gossip may lead her too.
   • You have just discover that this is only useful in the classes that your girlfriend dragged you to!
   • I see Christy grin as she drags a reluctant Mike onto the dance floor.
   • However, the prospect of dragging a reluctant teenager around may put off most parents before you've even left the house.
   • As soon as he arrived home from the University, I dragged him to look at the tunnel, despite Pride's objections.
   • He was an incredibly focused man (the personification of practicality) so much so that his friends had to drag him to any social event he ever attended.
   • Eventually, one of the other guys' girlfriends would intrude on them and drag her boyfriend off to dance.
   • She dragged him onto the floor despite his protests and silenced him with an explanation.
   • His excuses included that he was tired, his girlfriend was dragging him to meet with the caterer or he didn't want to go outside in the rain.
   • Despite having so many professors of hindsight we are still dragged through review after review.
   • It is also a sober commentary on an event that has dragged the town once again into the limelight.
   • Kapera dragged the gray-eyed agent away despite his protests.
   • Yeah, my girlfriend dragged me to exercise this morning, actually.
   • Two years ago, I was dragged, somewhat reluctantly, to my first meeting by a very enthusiastic friend.
   • He drags David to the event, and ends up proposing to his new girlfriend.
   • When your friend dragged you away, I reluctantly watched you leave.
2. 1.2drag oneself Go somewhere wearily, reluctantly, or with difficulty.
   I have to drag myself out of bed each day

   Example sentencesExamples

   • At this, a couple of selection team hopefuls get up and reluctantly drag themselves from the room.
   • Jesse dragged herself inside with visible reluctance at the last second before our teacher entered and shuffled her way over to our table, glaring at me the whole while.
   • Reluctantly, I drag myself from the security of sleep.
   • Reluctantly he dragged himself to his feet and staggered into the kitchen.
   • Reluctantly, she dragged herself out of bed and shuffled into the bathroom.
   • He dragged himself up the walk, dimly noticing that the front window was covered with condensation.
   • It was difficult to drag myself from this remarkable family.
   • Wearily, the others followed him, practically dragging themselves up the wooden steps.
   • Getting up reluctantly, I dragged myself to the door and opened it.
   • When I did drag myself out for a walk - we were in downtown Hollywood - I was fascinated to recognise that many of the back alleys and car lots of some of those ancient two-reelers were still in existence.
   • The door swung open and Kata walked in, dragging herself across the room to flop down on the couch, exhaling loudly.
   • Reluctantly we dragged ourselves away from bashing rock solid flowers frozen to minus 196 degrees Celsius.
   • She had difficulty dragging herself out of bed.
   • Wearily, I got up and dragged myself into the hall, taking my can of beer with me.
   • The church is dragging itself, however reluctantly in some quarters, into the 21st century.
   • Always ride with at least one friend (it can be very difficult to drag yourself and your bike 10 miles out of a trail with a broken leg).
   • Usually, but reluctantly, they drag themselves downstairs.
   • I found it very difficult to drag myself back to the office after that, so after a quick conference with Paul I booked some holiday for mid-July when I got back to my desk and immediately felt better about things.
   • The weight of her wet clothes made it difficult to drag herself out of the water, but Annabelle managed.
   • It was with the greatest reluctance that I dragged myself into consciousness after my nap this afternoon to go pay a visit to Graham's parents.
3. 1.3 Move (an image or highlighted text) across a computer screen using a tool such as a mouse.
   you can move the icons into this group by dragging them in with the mouse

   Example sentencesExamples

   • If you'd like to move your text, click and hold your left mouse button to drag your text to your desired position.
   • The company also announces it will create an operating system based on dragging and clicking on computer screen icons.
   • The image deformation tools let you drag the corners of a 2D image to deform it, perhaps to change or emphasize perspective effects.
   • To remove individual desktop icons from your desktop, you can drag the icon to the Recycle Bin or you can right-click on the shortcut and select Delete.
   • If your mouse pointer is moving too fast, drag the slider to the slower side.
   • In graphical editors, to change a block of text, click and drag the mouse to highlight the text, then click an icon or menu option or type a keyboard shortcut.
   • If you'd like to move your text, click and hold your left mouse button directly over your text to drag it to your desired position.
   • The interface reflects this, and you are able to easily select players and assign them units, or just drag the player's icon over the group.
   • The data visualization tool allowed me to drag my mouse over the various ski resorts and see the skiing conditions, including snowfall and depth.
   • A window can be dragged between desktops (onto the same relative page) in this manner.
   • Click and drag this from one image into the second one.
   • In the Edit mode, click on the scene you want to move, hold down the mouse button and drag it to the required place in the Storyboard list.
   • He drags the icon for the software that was on the desktop to the zip drive.
   • Using this program, I can give you a feature where you can drag a picture from the desktop into an article.
   • An example of improved user-friendliness is that live images can now be dragged, zoomed, and centered.
   • Internet Radio stations are added by browsing to the website, and dragging the icon of the desired station into the drop window.
   • This window cannot be dragged out of the screen unless you disable a corresponding check.
   • It includes such functions as dragging icons between folders, resizing windows inside the browser, sorting data easily and the like.
   • Once you've identified your clip, just drag the mouse cursor over the area you want.
   • As soon as the Move command starts and a ghost image appears as you drag the entities, the entities are regenerated so they appear as boxes.
4. 1.4no object (of a person's clothes or an animal's tail) trail along the ground.
   the nuns walked in meditation, their habits dragging on the grassy verge

   Example sentencesExamples

   • That was the last thing that she needed, her coat dragging along outside and getting even more abused than it already was.
   • Meanwhile, in a castle that shouldn't be there, they were holding one of Luke's arms each, letting his feet drag along the ground.
   • Her ghoulish black clothing dragged tragically along the ground.
   • I followed him silently, my dress dragging slightly on the carpet behind me.
   • Depending on the severity of a collision you will end up with crumpled doors, shattered glass or even bumpers and skirts dragging in a trail of sparks behind you.
   • Her comrades were much broader in size, both carrying enormous cannon weapons that dragged along the ground behind them as they marched on.
   • His scaled tail dragging behind me, I carried him awkwardly to his mother.
   • It was far too big for her, and the sleeves dragged, as it had belonged to her grandmother as a girl.
   • Her wolfish tail dragged across the ground like a meek puppy, even though her colorless eyes sparkled with strength.
   • Kenji's tennis shoes dragged against the ground hopelessly.
   • She moved, instead, past her mother's room and to her own, the hem of her fine red dress dragging, wet and dirty, on the clean floor behind her.
   • The skirt of her dark blue gown dragged along the floor, collecting a little dust, but Lilatte hardly noticed.
   • She wore a beautiful red and white gown that dragged across the ground.
   • As it slunk back off into the forest, another shadow crawled down from a tree, its long arms dragging along the ground behind it as it went.
   • Cherry strolled slowly, her dark red skirt dragging along the ground.
   • One last stop is required, right about the time my feet begin to hurt and my shopping bag is dragging along the ground.
   • My cloak dragged along the dusty floor; I followed the rest of them.
   • A fin down its back ends in another larger tail dragging behind it.
   • Taidra quickly moved to her closet door, her servant dress dragging along the ground.
   • His tail almost dragged upon the gleaming floor, black and braided as well.
5. 1.5drag atno object Catch hold of and pull (something)
   desperately, Jinny dragged at his arm

   Example sentencesExamples

   • Wrinkles were starting at the corner of her eyes and around the edges of her mouth, showing the effect of hundreds of years of gravity dragging at skin and bone.
   • They are outwardly charming but ultimately ruled by darker forces, like the fierce undertow that pulls and drags at the coast of the Breton island where this beguiling novel is set.
   • The mesh cuts into my fingers and drags at my wrists.
   • With the considerable football hype that is pulling and dragging at his sporting consciousness, it is vital that the senior hurlers are not overlooked.
   • They swarmed up the levelled rock blockage, pushed through the gap that Tiffany had blasted, dragging at rock that crumbled at their touch.
   • As she paced, passing random strangers on the 17th Avenue sidewalk, the wind slapped at her and the pack dragged at her shoulder muscles.
   • I grew tired, the heavy weight of the sword dragged at my waning strength.
   • Max and the black Doberman made eye contact, but the dog did not give him away rather it was spooked by the eyes it looked into and dragged at its lead away from Max.
   • She brings it regardless, ignoring the way it drags at her hand and tangles in her nightgown.
   • For all this fascinating detail, though, the perceived need to create interest where no such need exists drags at this book's heels.
   • He once said to me ‘I can't understand fellows pulling and dragging at a player, if you go for a ball don't waste petrol, make one journey.’
   • Improvised fibre rope leashes were around their necks and the owner, who was sitting on his haunches, dragging at a beedi with great determination, held the other ends.
   • Best-known and worst-conceived was the spell of No 1 Field Punishment, where he was strapped to a post for four hours a day, placed so that his weight dragged at his shoulders and back.
   • I struggled through on belly and elbows, cobwebs dragging at my hair.
   • The rain had fallen hard and fast and then moved out of the area quickly, leaving behind a heavy sultriness that pulled and dragged at them.
   • Quickly, he slid his face against his left arm, dragging at the velvet.
   • Then, just for a few hours, we can dream that we have a magic wand to wave, that in one leap we can be free of all the clutter that drags at our heels.
   • An arm wriggled under one of his knees, and after a bit of work, she shoved it free and raised it to grab a hunk of hair, dragging at his head.
   • Numair stood inside with fatigue visibly dragging at him, the circles under his eyes more pronounced and a constant tremor in his hands.
   • Exhaustion was dragging at her as the grate of the panel sounded, but she clung to that thought, stumbling forward.
6. 1.6with object (of a ship) trail (an anchor) along the seabed, drifting in the process.
   the coaster was dragging her anchor in St Ives Bay

   no object the anchor did not hold and they dragged further through the water

   Example sentencesExamples

   • Anchoring in Bressay Sound to the south of Lerwick, they have a habit of dragging anchor in heavy storms and failing to get their engines started due to sloppy maintenance.
   • Three people were rescued in hurricane force winds today, after a yacht from London began dragging its anchor east of Hunda Sound, off Burray.
   • Many a boat has dragged anchor and been smashed to pieces there.
   • Her propeller shaft was fouled and she was dragging her anchor, so Endurance, some 25 miles away when the call went out, closed in at top speed to act as on-scene commander.
   • Not only did it not pull its weight, but it was like an anchor that had to be dragged around by the rest of the team.
   • The crew made a distress call after their 47 foot yacht started dragging its anchor and was in danger of going ashore onto the rocks.
7. 1.7no object (of an anchor) fail to hold, causing a ship or boat to drift.
   his anchor had dragged and he found himself sailing out to sea

   Example sentencesExamples

   • In 1920 two were dispatched to the depths and the rest were left at anchor, until a storm early the next year caused their anchors to drag and chains to break.
   • This allows a user to input the swing and drag circles and activates an alarm if the anchor begins to drag or another ship is about to move within the danger circle.
   • But once that expectational anchor began to drag, unions had reason to fear that inflation, once ignited, would persist.
   • He took the commuter to a distance and watched as tide, now fully rushing into the gap, carried the pilot-less craft along until her dragging anchor snagged a rock.
   • You are set for the night, unless the wind picks up and/or the tidal current causes your anchor to drag.
8. 1.8with object Search the bottom of (a river, lake, or the sea) with grapnels or nets.
   frogmen had dragged the local river

   Example sentencesExamples

   • Lochs and rivers have been dragged by police divers, and mountain rescue teams have been called out to search the wild Argyll terrain for his body - but to no avail.

   Synonyms

   search, comb, hunt through, rummage through, sift through, go through with a fine-tooth comb, root through, rake through, leave no stone unturned, mine, look all over, look high and low in

2no object (of time) pass slowly and tediously.

1. 2.1drag on (of a process or situation) continue at tedious and unnecessary length.
   the dispute between the two families dragged on for some years

   Example sentencesExamples

   • There's not a single moment in the game where it drags or you want to get it over with.
   • His brother told the newspaper last night that he hoped the discovery would help bring to an end the family's nightmare which has dragged on for more than two years.
   • As talks dragged on through the day, special forces continued preparing for an onslaught.
   • Who was it that said ‘I sure hope that trial drags out a few more months.’
   • But I must tell you frankly one of the reasons why this investigation was dragging for so long is that we lacked sufficient evidence.
   • Negotiations dragged on for months, from fall into the following spring.
   • However, the malice and hatred Enrico and I had for each other continued and the battle dragged on.
   • The process to getting a second operator has dragged on for three years now.
   • The suit dragged on for years during which the tribes and government did not distinguish themselves by their behavior.
   • We consider that the science is clear but, regrettably, the whole process has dragged on too long.
   • The saga has dragged on for years since the wool processing plant closed its doors for the last time.
   • Privatization of state firms has dragged on due to resistance from bureaucrats, unions and populist politicians.
   • In fact, so laborious was the process that it dragged on for months and went way over budget.
   • Instead of ending with a quick defeat, the war dragged on.
   • Hasani said the drafting process of the statute dragged on for over a year because it did not suit the interests of the Rectorate.
   • This process dragged on for over a year, while at the same time in the city, the gas and heating were cut off.
   • ‘Things have dragged on for so long it could be classified as derelict,’ he said.
   • He believes one of the reasons the move ended up dead in the water was that negotiations dragged on too long.
   • Fortunately, as the hours of live coverage dragged on through the weekend, this was a crisis with few casualties.
   • The process dragged on for a few weeks, and the information dribbled in.

   Synonyms

   persist, continue, go on, carry on, extend, run on, be protracted, linger, endure, keep up, hold, prevail, subsist
2. 2.2drag something outwith object Protract something unnecessarily.
   he dragged out the process of serving them

   Example sentencesExamples

   • It would have been crueller to people to have dragged this process out by giving false hope, he said.
   • All then we have to wait for is for them to stop all of these lawsuits that drag the process out.
   • So far it looks like a thinly veiled threat to drag the process out in legalistic wranglings.
   • There will be no sequel since it would unnecessarily be dragging the whole thing out and I don't have any ideas.
   • Even if the sentence is reduced on appeal, he still seems certain to miss the competition as his lawyers and those of his club continue to drag the process out.
   • Isn't there a danger that he will drag this process out?
   • ‘The reality is that if someone files on paper, if there is a mistake or an omission, we have to send it back out and the whole process is dragged out,’ he said.
   • We are approached with dozens of cases every year but many don't ever come to a conclusion as the health boards drag the process out so long.
   • Of course for those officers, who believe that they will be found guilty and face dismissal, are being paid throughout this process, so there is no disadvantage in dragging the process out.
   • We did not take any pleasure in having to drag the process out until we got the answers we all required.
   • They know they will be defeated in the next election, so they will drag the process out to the last day.
   • Ben was quiet, he continued with his pizza slowly, dragging the process out just to watch her squirm.
   • The longer the process is dragged out - the 10, 15, or 20 years that he referred to - the more and greater harm it will do over time.
   • The whole process can be dragged out for up to five years.

   Synonyms

   prolong, protract, draw out, stretch out, spin out, string out, make something go on and on, extend, extend the duration of, lengthen, carry on, keep going, keep alive, continue

   archaic wire-draw

1mass noun The action of pulling something forcefully or with difficulty.

1. 1.1 The longitudinal retarding force exerted by air or other fluid surrounding a moving object.
   the coating reduces aerodynamic drag

   Example sentencesExamples

   • Driving with the windows or sunroof open also creates drag.
   • Streamlining is important in gliders to reduce drag forces.
   • Any increase in surface area will increase skin friction drag.
   • The smaller the limbs, the more likely a corpse will float facing up - short arms and legs create less drag.
   • Side-view mirrors are replaced with side-mounted cameras, significantly reducing aerodynamic drag.
   • This puts the center of rolling friction drag behind the center of gravity.
   • One evident reason for the absence of any form of bounding flight in bats is the difficulty of folding their membranous wings to save wing drag.
   • At higher speeds, air drag supplies a force that must be counteracted by the engine, again consuming more fuel.
   • The drag of a subsonic plane is primarily due to friction with the air, as well as the pressure difference between the front and trailing surfaces.
   • A sudden and unexplained loss of data from its sensors was followed by signs that the shuttle's wing was encountering drag, or increased wind resistance.
   • Alternatively, the missile is heated in an arc around its circumference and crumples under atmospheric drag force or its own G-force.
   • That friction-like drag slowed the moving cloud of atoms to a standstill, although each atom continued to move randomly near its place in the array.
   • Reduce aerodynamic drag and enhance fuel economy by keeping less weight on the front area of the car.
   • The presence of a longer disordered tag thus exerts a greater frictional drag, affecting the module tumbling in solution.
   • These effects are lessened somewhat due to reduced form and skin friction drag.
   • Many hybrids use aerodynamic design to reduce drag and improve fuel efficiency.
   • This reduces drag and lowers the radar cross section of the aircraft, making detection by the enemy more difficult.
   • So, more down force is good, but too much down force means too much drag, which is bad.
   • For fast circuits like Monza and Indianapolis, the front and rear wings are kept as thin as possible, producing less drag.
   • The bicycles are designed to reduce aerodynamic drag caused by the machine itself and the rider's racing position.
2. 1.2in singular A person or thing that impedes progress or development.
   Larry was turning out to be a drag on her career

   Example sentencesExamples

   • The only drag is getting out there: the Marché is at 11600 de Salaberry, just off the Sources Boulevard exit from the 40.
   • Larry mentioned this year that he almost always has to build the roof for the missions, which I guess is a drag because they are complicated.
   • At present, they are more of an economic drag and a liability.
   • Gains by both groups after encouraging figures from the company saw the FTSE shrug off the drag caused by weaker bank, pharmaceutical and telecom stocks.

   Synonyms

   hindrance, encumbrance, burden, handicap, nuisance, inconvenience
3. 1.3Fishing Unnatural motion of a fishing fly caused by the pull of the line.
   Example sentencesExamples

   • Make sure multiplier drag washers have been fully cleaned and give line freely without snatching.
   • Because of the twin drag system the reels do not have to be as big as a conventional reel.
   • If dropping a shot, it is best to steer just west of Runnel Stone and drop it onto the wreck at 20-25m, letting the line drag back across the rock.
   • Setting your drag must depend on where you are fishing, but over the rough stuff, wind it up solid and give not an inch of line.
   • When fishing the ocean you need a good quality reel that is corrosion proof and fitted with a good quality and workable drag system that won't seize up when you hook that big one.
   • Rather than a larger reel, invest in additional ball bearings and improved drag systems, both of which are more important than a few turns of string.
   • This is simply done by pulling the line and adjusting the drag as you pull so that it gives line.
   • We assumed that something was wrong with the reel - but there wasn't - the fish at that point had simply been pulling over 90 lb of drag.
   • The fish wallowed, then made a determined run, peeling yards of line from the light drag.
   • It took yards of line off a hard-set drag, and it all but pulled me off my ledge.
   • Have your drag set firm enough to make a pollack work hard to take line from the reel, but light enough to give line well before the line's breaking strain point.
   • And any fish that can pull line off against ten pounds of drag is a fish that you ought to give line to anyway!
   • The mackerel hit the lure like an express train, winning a foot or two of line against the drag, wrestling the rod tip toward the water.
   • Make sure you have that drag set, for these bass hit so hard it can be quite alarming.
   • Some of you might even think this amount of drag is too much, but with good line and well tied knots it is about right, believe me.
   • With the wind blowing from left to right, I used the line drag to move the fly through each cast across and down like salmon fishing.
   • As more line is pulled from the reel, the amount of drag will increase without the lever or star being touched.
   • Line was standard 15 lb monofilament so that the drag of the line was predictable in the conditions.
   • Leave the drag to give line at medium pressure, it's your safety net to protect the line if the shark changes speed and direction suddenly.
   • With the reel marked in this way, an angler can feel he has reliable drag settings and can adjust it accordingly during the fight.
4. 1.4archaic count noun An iron shoe that can be applied as a brake to the wheel of a cart or wagon.

2informal in singular A boring or tiresome person or thing.

3informal An act of inhaling smoke from a cigarette.

4mass noun Clothing more conventionally worn by the opposite sex, especially women's clothes worn by a man.

5informal A street or road.

6A thing that is pulled along the ground or through water.

1. 6.1historical A harrow used for breaking up the surface of land.
2. 6.2 An apparatus for dredging or for recovering objects from the bottom of a river or lake.
3. 6.3
   another term for dragnet

7A strong-smelling lure drawn before hounds as a substitute for a fox.

1. 7.1 A hunt using a drag lure.
   Example sentencesExamples

   • The members remain free to assemble together for a mock chase, or a drag hunt or simply a communal ride.
   • But for those people who want to ride to hounds, collectively they may go once and try it, be it a fox hunt or a drag hunt.
   • In spite of that, a drag hunt has existed for many years and still exists today.
   • In a drag hunt, a field master leads a team on horseback, guided by foxhounds on the trail of an animal scent.
   • And as for the hunters, you can still have a jolly good day out on a drag hunt and I and many more like-minded people look forward to joining you.
   • This was another great season for the association, members of which took top-class prizes in all the big drag hunts in Cork and Limerick.
   • Saturday's meet will be a legal drag hunt, said the master.

8North American informal mass noun Influence over other people.

9Music
One of the basic patterns (rudiments) of drumming, consisting of a stroke preceded by two grace notes usually played with the other stick.

10

11historical A private vehicle like a stagecoach, drawn by four horses.

1. 11.1British dated, informal A car.
   a stately great drag with a smart chauffeur