drag
High (B1)Informal, Semi-formal (depending on sense). 'Drag one's feet/heels' is idiomatic and semi-formal. The computing sense is neutral. The performance art sense is specific.
Definition
Meaning
To pull something along a surface with effort, usually because it is heavy or offers resistance.
To make a process seem longer or more tedious than necessary; to behave with excessive slowness or reluctance; to inhale smoke from a cigarette; to use computer mouse to move items; to participate in drag performance art (dressing in clothes of the opposite sex).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The verb is highly polysemous, spanning physical action, temporal extension, computing, and subculture. The noun form (not detailed here) includes meanings like a boring thing, a puff on a cigarette, a type of performance, and aerodynamic resistance.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both use all core senses. 'Drag' for a boring event/person is slightly more common in UK English. The phrase 'drag and drop' (computing) is universal.
Connotations
Identical. 'To drag on' (be tedious) has the same negative connotation. 'Drag queen/king' is the standard term in both.
Frequency
The 'cigarette' sense ('take a drag') is equally common. The 'pull forcibly' sense is core and high-frequency in both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
drag [OBJ] (e.g., drag the suitcase)drag [OBJ] + prepositional phrase (e.g., drag it across the floor)drag [OBJ] + adverbial particle (e.g., drag it out, drag it up)drag [OBJ] + adjective (e.g., drag it open)intransitive: The meeting dragged (on).Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “drag your feet/heels (delay)”
- “drag someone's name through the mud (defame)”
- “drag on (be tediously long)”
- “drag up (mention an unwelcome past topic)”
- “look like something the cat dragged in (look dishevelled)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"The negotiations are dragging on, costing us time and money."
Academic
"The author's tendency to digress drags the narrative pace."
Everyday
"Can you help me drag this bin to the curb?" "This film really drags in the middle."
Technical
"Drag the selected file into the new folder. Aerodynamic drag increases with speed."
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She had to drag the heavy duvet back to the airing cupboard.
- The Brexit debate seemed to drag for years.
- He took a long drag on his roll-up.
American English
- I had to drag my suitcase through three terminals.
- Don't drag your feet on this decision—we need an answer.
- Just drag the icon to the trash.
adverb
British English
- (Not standard).
American English
- (Not standard).
adjective
British English
- (Rare as standalone adjective. Part of compounds: drag racing, drag artist).
American English
- (Rare as standalone adjective. Part of compounds: drag show, drag strip).
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The boy drags his teddy bear everywhere.
- Don't drag your bag on the ground.
- I had to drag myself out of bed this morning.
- The meeting dragged on for two hours.
- The government is accused of dragging its feet on environmental reforms.
- She didn't want to drag her family into the argument.
- The film's second act drags interminably, undermining its initial promise.
- He's a fixture on the local drag scene, known for his witty lip-sync performances.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a DRAGon pulling a heavy treasure chest with great effort, making everything slow and difficult.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS SPACE MOVED THROUGH: A long, tedious event is conceptualised as something you must pull yourself through laboriously ("The lecture dragged.").
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'тащить' for enjoyable, fast movement (e.g., 'The car really drags!' is negative, not 'Машина тащит!').
- Do not use 'drag' to translate 'волочить' in the sense of romantic pursuit.
- "Drag race" is a specific competition, not a generic 'гонка'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'I dragged him to come to the party.' Correct: 'I dragged him to the party.' (No infinitive after 'drag' in this sense).
- Incorrect: 'He is a drag person.' (ambiguous/wrong). Correct for performer: 'He is a drag queen.' or 'He does drag.'
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'drag' used in a computing context?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, but often. Pulling something physically is neutral. Making something slow/tedious is negative. 'Drag and drop' (computing) is neutral. 'Drag show/queen' is a specific cultural term, not inherently negative.
'Pull' is the general term. 'Drag' implies friction/resistance, often on a surface. 'Haul' suggests moving something very heavy over a long distance, often with vehicle assistance.
Yes, especially in the temporal sense: 'Time dragged.' or 'The performance dragged on.' The physical sense usually requires an object.
It is the standard, non-offensive term within LGBTQ+ and performance contexts to describe someone (typically male) dressed in exaggeratedly feminine clothing for entertainment. As with any term, context and intent matter. It should not be used as a general synonym for 'cross-dressing'.