7 → see also draught SYNONYMS draft NOUN 1
outline: Following is an outline of the survey findings.
plan: …a detailed plan of action for restructuring the group.
sketch: I had a basic sketch of a plan.
dra ft dodg|er (draft dodgers ) N‑COUNT A draft dodger is someone who avoids joining the armed forces when normally they would have to join. [mainly AM , DISAPPROVAL ]
draftee /drɑː ftiː , dræ ft-/ (draftees ) N‑COUNT A draftee is the same as a conscript . [AM ]
drafts|man (draftsmen /drɑː ftsmən, dræ fts-/) → see draughtsman
drafts|man|ship /drɑː ftsmənʃ I p, dræ fts-/ → see draughtsmanship
drafty /drɑː fti, dræ fti/ → see draughty
drag ◆◇◇ /dræ g/ (drags , dragging , dragged )
1 VERB If you drag something, you pull it along the ground, often with difficulty. □ [V n prep/adv] He got up and dragged his chair towards the table.
2 VERB To drag a computer image means to use the mouse to move the position of the image on the screen, or to change its size or shape. [COMPUTING ] □ [V n] Use your mouse to drag the pictures to their new size.
3 VERB If someone drags you somewhere, they pull you there, or force you to go there by physically threatening you. □ [V n prep/adv] The vigilantes dragged the men out of the vehicles.
4 VERB If someone drags you somewhere you do not want to go, they make you go there. □ [V n adv/prep] When you can drag him away from his work, he can also be a devoted father.
5 VERB If you say that you drag yourself somewhere, you are emphasizing that you have to make a very great effort to go there. [EMPHASIS ] □ [V pron-refl adv/prep] I find it really hard to drag myself out and exercise regularly.
6 VERB If you drag your foot or your leg behind you, you walk with great difficulty because your foot or leg is injured in some way. □ [V n prep] He was barely able to drag his poisoned leg behind him.
7 VERB If the police drag a river or lake, they pull nets or hooks across the bottom of it in order to look for something. □ [V n] Yesterday police frogmen dragged a small pond on the Common.
8 VERB If a period of time or an event drags , it is very boring and seems to last a long time. □ [V adv] The minutes dragged past. □ [V ] The pacing was uneven, and the early second act dragged.
9 N‑SING If something is a drag on the development or progress of something, it slows it down or makes it more difficult. □ Spending cuts will put a drag on growth.
10 N‑SING [oft N to-inf] If you say that something is a drag , you mean that it is unpleasant or very dull. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ]
11 N‑COUNT If you take a drag on a cigarette or pipe that you are smoking, you take in air through it. [INFORMAL ]
12 N‑UNCOUNT Drag is the wearing of women's clothes by a male entertainer. ● PHRASE If a man is in drag , he is wearing women's clothes. □ The band dressed up in drag.
13 PHRASE If you drag your feet or drag your heels , you delay doing something or do it very slowly because you do not want to do it. □ The government, he claimed, was dragging its feet.
▸ drag down
1 PHRASAL VERB To drag someone down means to reduce them to an inferior social status or to lower standards of behaviour. □ [V n P ] She dragged him down with her. □ [be V -ed P + by ] There were fears he would be dragged down by the scandal.
2 PHRASAL VERB Something that drags you down makes you feel weak or depressed. □ [V n P ] I have had really bad bouts of flu that have really dragged me down.
▸ drag in PHRASAL VERB When you are talking, if you drag in a subject, you mention something that is not relevant and that other people do not want to discuss. □ [V P n] They disapproved of my dragging in his wealth. [Also V n P ]
▸ drag into PHRASAL VERB To drag something or someone into an event or situation means to involve them in it when it is not necessary or not desirable. □ [V n P n] Why should Carmela have dragged him into the argument?
▸ drag on PHRASAL VERB You say that an event or process drags on when you disapprove of the fact that it lasts for longer than necessary. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V P ] The conflict with James has dragged on for two years.
▸ drag out
1 PHRASAL VERB If you drag something out , you make it last for longer than is necessary. □ [V P n] The company was willing to drag out the proceedings for years. □ [V n P ] Let's get it over with as soon as possible, rather than drag it out.
2 PHRASAL VERB If you drag something out of a person, you persuade them to tell you something that they do not want to tell you. □ [V n P + of ] A confession had to be dragged out of him.
▸ drag up PHRASAL VERB If someone drags up an unpleasant event or an old story from the past, they mention it when people do not want to be reminded of it. □ [V P n] I don't want to go back there and drag up that anger again. [Also V n P ]
drag|net /dræ gnet/ N‑SING [oft n N ] A dragnet is a method used by police to catch suspected criminals. A large number of police officers search a specific area, in the hope that they will eventually find the person they are looking for. □ …a massive police dragnet for two suspected terrorists.