drag the chain

Etymology
The term stems from the railway when chains and hooks connected the carriages or goods trucks. If the rear chain came lose from the secured position it would drag on the ground slowing progress.

Verb

 * 1) To fall behind relative to others.
 * 2) To unwittingly hold up progress.
 * 3) To deliberately hold up progress by acting slowly.
 * Act’s dragging of the chain seems designed to prevent progress on this important issue.