dragging one's feet
Slow to act
Dragging one's feet is deliberately slowing progress or delaying action, usually out of reluctance or passive resistance.
The image is of someone walking so unenthusiastically they can't be bothered to lift their feet: The committee has been dragging its feet on the proposal for months.
Also *drag one's heels*.
- slownessAbsence of quickness
- stallingIntentional delay tactics
- buying timeDelaying to gain advantage
- running out the clockConsuming remaining game time strategically
- dawdlingLeisurely time-wasting
taking one's time · laziness · dilly-dallying · postponement · putting off · deferral · passive-aggression · foot-dragging · lethargy · reluctant · hesitation · stonewalling · digging in one's heels · reticence · disinclination · conflict avoidance · scuff · unhurriedness
dragging one's feethitting the ground running
Starting work without delay
rushing · hurrying · expediting · fast-tracking · hustling
dragging one's feettaking the bull by the horns
Confronting a difficulty directly
taking initiative · stepping up · forging ahead · getting down to business · taking the plunge