Foot-dragging

Foot-dragging describes the act of delaying or slowing down a process, action, or decision, often intentionally. It's characterized by reluctance, procrastination, and resistance to moving forward promptly. This behavior can manifest in various settings, from bureaucratic processes and business negotiations to personal relationships and even military campaigns. The implication is frequently a deliberate attempt to hinder progress, stall for time, or avoid an undesirable outcome. The term subtly conveys a sense of inefficiency and potential frustration for those involved or affected.

Foot-dragging meaning with examples

• The company's implementation of the new software faced significant foot-dragging from employees resistant to change. They avoided training sessions and used outdated methods, slowing the project's timeline and creating inefficiencies. The management had to implement new procedures to motivate them and get them to join the new system, or find new employees.
• Negotiations for the trade agreement were stalled due to political foot-dragging. Each party was attempting to protect their interests, causing a stalemate in decision-making and frustrating attempts to finalize a mutually beneficial agreement, causing damage to the other areas where an agreement was needed.
• His foot-dragging on the renovation project, delaying crucial decisions, frustrated the contractors. He spent endless hours with his friends, and made decisions slowly, creating delays and cost overruns while constantly criticizing their workmanship and complaining of all the dust.
• Despite repeated requests, her foot-dragging in submitting her expense reports created a significant backlog for the finance department. The accounting team struggled to keep up with the incomplete records and missing receipts, causing difficulties to stay organized.
• Military operations encountered logistical foot-dragging as supplies failed to reach front-line units on schedule. The lack of speed in distribution impacted combat effectiveness and the morale of the soldiers, making the mission extremely difficult and possibly causing failure.