foot-dragging
noun
foot-drag·ging
ˈfu̇t-ˌdra-giŋ 
: failure to act with the necessary promptness or vigor
Examples of foot-dragging in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Welch also disagreed with the Court of Appeals finding that foot-dragging by Kennedy in filing his appeals had not undermined his case.
—
Paul Egan, Detroit Free Press, 9 Sep. 2024
Clark, a retired CEO from Bluffton, South Carolina, said she's used to foot-dragging and canned apologies.
—Christopher Elliott, USA TODAY, 26 July 2024
But amid the current catastrophe in Gaza—the most devastating war for both sides in decades—such foot-dragging can no longer stand in the way.
—Mohammad Shtayyeh, Foreign Affairs, 4 July 2024
Hochul endorsed key pieces of the bill, but then by all accounts used little of her massive leverage in negotiations, leaving the foot-dragging state Assembly to hold up this bill and other climate initiatives in the final weeks of the session.
—John Raskin, New York Daily News, 30 June 2024
No better evidence of the bad faith and bias on the part of the right-wing Supreme Court majority exists than its foot-dragging on the decision concerning whether felon and former president Donald Trump can be prosecuted for an insurrection.
—Jennifer Rubin, Washington Post, 24 June 2024
The governor called a rare special session for the legislature to pass a bill ensuring Joe Biden appears alongside Donald Trump on the November ballot after much foot-dragging by his own party.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 28 May 2024
Firing a perfect spiral about 40 yards down the left sideline, Welliver connected with receiver Jackson Harper, from Simsbury, who did enough toe-tapping and foot-dragging for the catch to be called complete on the field.
—Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 21 Apr. 2024
When that faith fades, the result is not a coup but foot-dragging, inaction, and ultimately desertion.
—Daniel Treisman, Foreign Affairs, 2 Nov. 2022
Paul Egan, Detroit Free Press, 9 Sep. 2024
Clark, a retired CEO from Bluffton, South Carolina, said she's used to foot-dragging and canned apologies.
—Christopher Elliott, USA TODAY, 26 July 2024
But amid the current catastrophe in Gaza—the most devastating war for both sides in decades—such foot-dragging can no longer stand in the way.
—Mohammad Shtayyeh, Foreign Affairs, 4 July 2024
Hochul endorsed key pieces of the bill, but then by all accounts used little of her massive leverage in negotiations, leaving the foot-dragging state Assembly to hold up this bill and other climate initiatives in the final weeks of the session.
—John Raskin, New York Daily News, 30 June 2024
No better evidence of the bad faith and bias on the part of the right-wing Supreme Court majority exists than its foot-dragging on the decision concerning whether felon and former president Donald Trump can be prosecuted for an insurrection.
—Jennifer Rubin, Washington Post, 24 June 2024
The governor called a rare special session for the legislature to pass a bill ensuring Joe Biden appears alongside Donald Trump on the November ballot after much foot-dragging by his own party.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 28 May 2024
Firing a perfect spiral about 40 yards down the left sideline, Welliver connected with receiver Jackson Harper, from Simsbury, who did enough toe-tapping and foot-dragging for the catch to be called complete on the field.
—Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 21 Apr. 2024
When that faith fades, the result is not a coup but foot-dragging, inaction, and ultimately desertion.
—Daniel Treisman, Foreign Affairs, 2 Nov. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'foot-dragging.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Foot-dragging.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/foot-dragging. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.
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