noun General Slang

Drag

/dræɡ/ · noun · slang

A short, flat-out car race from a standing start — or something boring.

0

Definitions

1

Something tedious or boring (from jazz slang).

“Cleaning the garage all weekend was such a drag.”
by community
0
2

A short, straight-line acceleration race between cars, usually from a dead stop.

“They settled the score with a drag down on River Road.”
by community
0
3

The main street where teens cruised and raced.

“Everybody was out on the drag Saturday night.”
by community
0

Drag In A Sentence

He won the drag by half a car length and took the pink slip.
We cruised the drag for hours looking for action.
Waiting in line at the DMV is a real drag.

Origin & Usage

1950s American hot-rod culture gave 'drag' its racing sense (a short straight sprint, hence 'drag racing'), while the 'boring thing' sense traces back to 1940s jazz slang. The 'main drag' meaning of a town's central street is older still.

People Also Ask

What does drag mean in slang?

It can mean a short straight-line car race, the main cruising street, or something boring and tedious, depending on context.

Where did drag racing come from?

The racing sense of 'drag' grew out of 1950s American hot-rod culture, describing a flat-out sprint between cars from a standing start.

Why does drag also mean boring?

That sense comes from 1940s jazz slang, where a 'drag' was anything dull or tiresome that weighed you down.

Comments 0