drag the chain

English

Etymology

The term stems from the railway industry when chains and hooks connected the carriages or goods trucks. If the rear chain came loose from the secured position, it would then drag on the ground slowing progress.

Verb

drag the chain (third-person singular simple present drags the chain, present participle dragging the chain, simple past and past participle dragged the chain)

  1. (informal, idiomatic) To fall behind relative to others.
  2. (informal, idiomatic) To unwittingly hold up progress.
  3. (informal, idiomatic) To deliberately hold up progress by acting slowly.
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