drag out

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "drag out" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to indicate an activity that takes an unnecessarily long time to complete, making the activity more annoying or tedious than it needs to be. For example, "The meeting was dragged out for hours, even though all the decisions could have been made much more quickly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

50 human-written examples

It won't drag out".

The New York Times

Appeals drag out for decades.

The New Yorker

"Let's not let this drag out".

The New Yorker

Congested roads will drag out his trip into town.

The Economist

Smith promised to drag out hearings on the bill.

The New Yorker

Or, the suspense could drag out a little longer.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

We had some really knock-down, drag-out matches".

The New York Times - Sports

"We had some knock-down, drag-out arguments".

The New York Times

This should be a knockdown, drag-out defensive battle.

The New York Times

The Democratic primary, in particular, was a knockdown, drag-out brawl that went to a runoff.

The New York Times

"We'd have knock-down, drag-out games" at home, Andrews said of herself and her siblings.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "drag out" when you want to emphasize that something is taking longer than necessary and is becoming tedious or annoying. For example, "The negotiations were dragged out by unnecessary demands."

Common error

Avoid using "drag out" when you simply mean to extend or prolong something without the negative connotation of it being unnecessarily lengthy or tedious. Consider using "extend" or "prolong" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "drag out" functions as a phrasal verb, specifically a transitive one when it takes an object (e.g., "drag out the meeting"). It signifies the action of prolonging something unnecessarily. As Ludwig AI shows, this often implies a negative connotation.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Wiki

18%

Science

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

6%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "drag out" is a phrasal verb used to describe the act of prolonging something unnecessarily, often with a negative connotation. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage and prevalence in various contexts, particularly in news and media. While grammatically correct, avoid overusing it in neutral contexts where alternatives like "extend" or "prolong" might be more appropriate. Remember that "drag out" usually implies that the extension is tedious or unwanted. Use it to express frustration with unnecessary delays or prolongations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

draw out

Similar to "drag out" but can be used in a more neutral context, without necessarily implying negativity.

prolong

Focuses on extending the duration, omitting the negative connotation of unnecessary length.

pad out

Suggests adding unnecessary content to make something appear longer.

extend

Implies making something longer, without necessarily suggesting it's unwelcome.

protract

Suggests lengthening the duration, often in a formal or technical context.

lengthen

Simply means to make longer; lacks the implication of tediousness.

continue at length

Emphasizes the extended nature of the activity, but in a more formal manner.

spin out

Suggests extending something, often referring to narratives or stories.

stretch out

Implies extending something to its limit or beyond.

elongate

Refers to making something longer, often physically.

FAQs

What does "drag out" mean?

"Drag out" means to make something last longer than necessary, often causing it to become tedious or annoying. It implies a sense of unnecessary prolongation.

How can I use "drag out" in a sentence?

You can use "drag out" in a sentence like this: "The committee tried to "drag out" the decision to avoid making a difficult choice."

What are some alternatives to "drag out"?

Some alternatives to "drag out" include "prolong", "extend", or "draw out", depending on the specific context.

Is "drag out" a formal or informal expression?

"Drag out" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it's more commonly found in news media and general writing, rather than academic or highly formal settings.