drag on for too

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "drag on for too" is not correct in English as it is incomplete.
It can be used when discussing something that continues for an excessive amount of time, but it needs to be followed by a word or phrase to complete the thought. Example: "The meeting seemed to drag on for too long, making everyone restless."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Spitzer was also aware that allowing the investigation to drag on for too long would be politically dangerous.

The New Yorker

These are short and concise introductions that do not drag on for too long and bore the students.

The Guardian

The opposition leader, Bill Shorten, accused Abbott of "following his party instead of leading it" and allowing "this divisive debate" to drag on for too long.

The Guardian

"They are having to start all over again, and it's not easy," he said, adding that the biggest risk was that the Brexit process would drag on for too long and add "incertitude to incertitude".

The Guardian

"If this situation is not resolved quickly, it does not mean that Suzuki is in trouble, but it is in neither company's interest for this uncertainty to drag on for too long," said Mr. Harayama, adding that Suzuki engineers were now developing new products without additional outside help.

The New York Times

Jesus Freak Hideout reviewer Roger Gelwicks was less positive, commenting that the song (along with an album cut, "Free") "lack[s] anything to be held onto musically, and they do tend to drag on for too long and therefore bore the listener".

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

"These plans may be set into motion early on if the uncertainty drags on for too long".

The Guardian - Business

And if the case drags on for too long, Sun may sink behind the horizon for good.Read Business.view for more analysis of the news.

The Economist

For now, it is safe to say that if their confrontation drags on for too many more weeks, it will be difficult for Mr. Torricelli to maintain the air of invincibility that he seems to prize.

The New York Times

If debate drags on for too long, Iceland's credit rating, already close to junk, could be downgraded again and that would threaten the chances of a recovery.Yet by mid-week it seemed unlikely that the parliament would accept the Icesave deal unconditionally.

The Economist

"Someone from outside the district would also come in with a fresh approach". The district is hoping this move is a step in the right direction to speed up the negotiation process, which has been dragging on for too long, Trustee Grant said.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Complete the phrase "drag on for too" with a specific duration or consequence to enhance clarity. For example, "The meeting dragged on for too long, and we missed our deadline."

Common error

Avoid using "drag on for too" without specifying what the excessive duration led to. Without a clear end, the sentence lacks impact and precision.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "drag on for too" functions as part of a predicate, expressing that something is taking an excessively long time. However, it is typically considered grammatically incomplete without specifying the consequence. As Ludwig AI states, it needs to be followed by a word or phrase to complete the thought.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "drag on for too" is searchable, it is grammatically incomplete. As Ludwig AI's analysis highlights, it requires further context to be considered correct. The phrase appears most frequently in news and media contexts but is generally discouraged in formal writing without additional clarifying words. Instead, consider alternatives such as "continue for too long" or "last too long" to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness. Always ensure the phrase includes the ultimate outcome of the duration being 'too' long.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

continue for too long

Replaces "drag on" with a more direct verb, emphasizing the continuation of an event.

last too long

Simplifies the phrasing by using "last" instead of "drag on", focusing on duration.

go on for too long

Emphasizes the progression of time with "go on" instead of the more negative connotation of "drag".

persist for too long

Highlights the enduring nature of something undesirable with the verb "persist".

take too long

Focuses on the amount of time consumed by an activity or process.

stretch out for too long

Implies an artificial or unnecessary extension of time.

be prolonged for too long

Uses a passive construction to emphasize the act of extending the duration.

extend for too long

Similar to "be prolonged", but uses an active verb.

linger for too long

Suggests a sense of something staying beyond its welcome.

draw out for too long

Like "stretch out", this emphasizes an unnatural or deliberate lengthening of time.

FAQs

How can I properly use the phrase "drag on for too" in a sentence?

To use "drag on for too" correctly, complete the thought by specifying what happened because of the excessive duration. For example, "The negotiations dragged on for too long, exhausting all parties involved".

What are some alternatives to "drag on for too"?

Consider using alternatives such as "continue for too long", "last too long", or "take too long" to express the same idea with greater clarity.

Is it grammatically correct to say "drag on for too"?

The phrase "drag on for too" is grammatically incomplete. It requires additional information to make sense. It's better to use more complete alternatives like "dragged on for far too long" or rephrase entirely.

What does it mean when something is described as "dragging on for too" long?

It means that something is taking an excessively long time, often leading to negative consequences such as frustration, missed opportunities, or wasted resources.