General
drag
What does drag mean?
To publicly tear into someone — pile on receipts, screenshots and one-liners until they're cooked. Sharper and more personal than a normal roast; the audience is part of the punishment.
"She brought screenshots from 2014, the whole timeline watched her drag him for filth."
Origin
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.
Frequently asked questions
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.
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