Definition of the word drag on

The phrase "drag on" is a common idiom in the English language, meaning that something is taking an unnecessarily long time to complete. The origin of this expression can be traced back to the mid-19th century, when it was first used in the context of smoking cigars and cigarettes. In those days, tobacco was typically smoked using a long, thin pipe made of clay, wood, or meerschaum. These pipes had a small wooden stem called a "stem" that was attached to a bowl, which held the tobacco. Smokers would take a bite of the stem between their teeth, draw smoke into their mouth, and then release it slowly through their nose. The stem of these pipes had a tendency to become clogged with ash and tar, which made it difficult to draw smoke through. As a result, smokers had to constantly clear the stem, known as "relighting," by heating it with a lighter or match. This process was often repeated several times, which could slow down the smoking process significantly. To describe this annoyance, smokers began using the phrase "drag on" to refer to the lengthy process of clearing the stem. Eventually, this term became a figurative expression, meaning that any slow-moving or protracted activity is like dragging something along, such as pulling a heavy weight or wading through thick mud.