have been dragged

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have been dragged" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone or something has been pulled or forced into a particular state or condition, often against their will. Example: "They have been dragged into a conflict that they wanted to avoid."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She will have been dragged down by an unpopular President.

The New Yorker

He should never have been dragged into it.

Independent

Other metals have been dragged down in copper's wake.

The Economist

She added: "I have been dragged through the mud.

The New York Times - Sports

Many of them have been dragged into roadblocks.

The New York Times

Hospitals and patients have been dragged on to the battlefield".

The Guardian

Victims have been dragged off buses, beaten, stabbed, and scarred for life.

Stanford University

Asian stock markets, meanwhile, have been dragged down by the global nervousness.

The New York Times

Since September, scores have been dragged from their houses or arrested in schools.

The Economist

And so almost 700 human beings have been dragged to the gibbet so far this year.

Independent

Hundreds of millions of its people have been dragged out of subsistence into the middle class.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have been dragged" to convey a sense of being unwillingly involved or negatively affected by a situation or person. It is particularly effective when emphasizing the lack of agency or the negative consequences of the involvement.

Common error

Avoid using "have been dragged" when an active voice construction would be clearer and more direct. Overuse of the passive voice can make your writing sound weak and evasive.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "have been dragged" is to form a passive voice construction. It indicates that the subject of the sentence has received the action of being dragged, rather than performing it. Ludwig shows it used to express unwanted involvement or negative influence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Academia

19%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "have been dragged" is a versatile phrase used to indicate an unwilling involvement or negative impact. As highlighted by Ludwig, it functions grammatically as a passive voice construction, often conveying a sense of victimization. Its neutral register allows for use in various contexts, from news reporting to academic discussions. While very common in news and media, "have been dragged" also appears in academic and business settings. Remember to use it when you want to emphasize the lack of agency or the negative consequences of a situation. While the phrase is deemed correct by Ludwig AI, consider using active voice constructions for clearer writing where appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have been pulled

Changes the verb from "dragged" to "pulled", suggesting a less forceful action.

have been forced

Replaces "dragged" with "forced", emphasizing a lack of consent or willingness.

have been drawn in

Uses "drawn in" instead of "dragged", implying a more subtle or gradual involvement.

have been implicated

Shifts the focus to involvement in a negative or criminal matter.

have been caught up

Suggests being entangled or trapped in a situation.

have been subjected

Emphasizes being made to endure something unpleasant or difficult.

have been victimized

Highlights the experience of being harmed or wronged.

have been embroiled

Indicates deep and complicated involvement in a conflict or difficult situation.

have been maneuvered

Suggests being strategically manipulated into a position or situation.

have been entangled

Implies a complex and difficult-to-escape involvement.

FAQs

How can I use "have been dragged" in a sentence?

Use "have been dragged" to indicate someone or something has been unwillingly pulled into a situation, like "The company "have been dragged" into the scandal against its will."

What are some alternatives to "have been dragged"?

Consider using phrases like "have been pulled", "have been forced", or "have been drawn in" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What does it mean when someone says they "have been dragged through the mud"?

This idiom means someone's reputation has been severely damaged, often by public accusations or scandals. It implies a particularly unpleasant and degrading experience.

Is it better to use the active or passive voice with "dragged"?

It depends on the context. The active voice (e.g., "The scandal dragged the company down") is more direct, while the passive voice ("The company "have been dragged" down by the scandal") emphasizes the recipient of the action.