drag on for too long

USAGE SUMMARY

"drag on for too long" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
For example, you could say, "The meeting dragged on for too long and everyone was exhausted by the end of it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

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

50 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

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

On Wednesday, Ms. Faulkner, who appeared at the news conference with Mr. Williams and other city officials, said she had agreed to give up her advocacy for Mr. Abu-Jamal's execution because the case had dragged on for too long.

The New York Times

"Labor believes this process has now dragged on for too long and the government should deliver on its promise to quickly make available drugs recommended for inclusion on the PBS".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "drag on for too long", consider whether a more specific verb would be more impactful. For example, instead of "The debate dragged on for too long", try "The debate stalled" or "The debate meandered".

Common error

Avoid using passive voice when describing what is dragging on. Instead of "The process was allowed to drag on for too long", use "They allowed the process to "drag on for too long" to make the sentence more direct and engaging.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "drag on for too long" functions primarily as a verbal phrase indicating that an event or process is continuing for an excessive or undesirable duration. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "drag on for too long" is a common phrase used to express that something is continuing longer than desired. Ludwig AI validates its correct usage in various contexts, most frequently in News & Media. While grammatically sound and widely understood, consider using more specific verbs or alternative phrases for increased impact and formality. Be mindful of avoiding passive voice constructions for more direct and engaging communication. The most relevant thing is to be aware of the fact that the expression "drag on for too long" is very diffused.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extend beyond a reasonable time

This provides a more explicit and descriptive alternative, avoiding the figurative language of "drag on".

take an inordinately long time

This alternative emphasizes the excessive length of time something is taking.

continue excessively

This alternative shifts from the specific imagery of dragging to a more general term for prolonged continuation.

protract unnecessarily

This option uses 'protract' instead of 'drag on', emphasizing the lengthening of something, and 'unnecessarily' replaces 'too long'.

exceed a suitable duration

This formal alternative focuses on the surpassing of an appropriate time limit.

persist unduly

This alternative replaces 'drag' with 'persist' and 'too long' with 'unduly', conveying a sense of inappropriateness.

stretch out interminably

The word "interminably" emphasizes that something is stretched out without an apparent end.

linger excessively

This conveys the idea of something remaining or continuing longer than desired, similar to dragging.

outstay its welcome

This idiom suggests that something has continued for so long that it is no longer wanted or appreciated.

go on ad nauseam

This phrase implies something is continuing to the point of being tiresome or annoying.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "drag on for too long" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using alternatives such as "extend beyond a reasonable time" or "exceed a suitable duration", which convey the same meaning with greater sophistication.

What does it mean when something "drags on for too long"?

When something "drags on for too long", it means it continues for an unnecessarily or undesirably extended period, often becoming tedious or unproductive.

Is it better to say "drag on for too long" or "drag on too long"?

Both phrases are commonly used and generally acceptable. However, "drag on for too long" is often preferred because it provides a slightly clearer and more complete expression of the idea.

What are some warning signs that a project is "dragging on for too long"?

Warning signs include missed deadlines, decreased team morale, scope creep, and a lack of tangible progress. Regular project reviews can help identify these issues early.