# drag the chain

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/drag-the-chain
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To fall behind relative to others.

## Examples

- Don't drag the chain while we walk to the store.
- You drag the chain every time we try to leave the house.
- He drags the chain because he does not want to work today.
- The team missed the deadline because two members continued to drag the chain on their tasks.
- Our neighbors are dragging the chain on fixing their fence, so we cannot finish our garden renovations yet.
- The local government is dragging the chain on building the new park despite promising to start last year.
- If the department continues to drag the chain during this transition, the company will likely lose its competitive advantage in the global market.

## Origin

The term originates in the railway industry, referring to the iron chains and hooks used to connect carriages or goods trucks. When a rear chain came loose from its secured position and fell to the track, it would drag along the ground and slow the train's progress. The resulting friction served as an unintended brake, necessitating a delay for the chain to be reattached.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.