in tow
Dragged behind someone
In tow describes something being pulled or led along behind.
A tugboat has a barge in tow; a parent has children in tow.
The phrase suggests accompaniment with an element of guidance or control: She arrived at the party with her new boyfriend in tow.
From the nautical practice of towing vessels by rope or cable.
- dollyWheeled moving platform
- hitchTemporary difficulty or snag
- escortOne who accompanies another
- trailerPromotional film excerpt
- tugboatSmall craft that pulls ships
tagalong · along for the ride · chaperone · follower · mentee · entourage · apron strings · ball and chain · bringing up the rear · companion · assistant · follow the leader · little ones · apprentice · haul · caravan · dragging · drag along
- companionshipaccompanied, unaccompanied, together, alone, solo
- nautical termsahoy, afloat, aye aye, aye-aye, becalmed
in towleading
Guiding or pacing type
in the lead · at the helm · in front · out in front · ahead
in towon one's own
Without help or company
independently · untethered · unaccompanied · alone · free
tower, towel, tow, towering, towing, towers, towed, toweling, toweled