足(あし)を引(ひ)っ張(ぱ)る

あしをひっぱる
expression
to hold back, to drag down
1. to hold back, to drag down, to hinder
To impede someone's progress or success, often unintentionally through one's own poor performance or actions.
チームの足(あし)を引(ひ)っ張(ぱ)らないようにがんばる。
I'll do my best not to hold the team back.
彼(かれ)の失敗(しっぱい)がプロジェクトの足(あし)を引(ひ)っ張(ぱ)った。
His failure dragged down the project.
体調不良(たいちょうふりょう)で足(あし)を引(ひ)っ張(ぱ)ってしまった。
I ended up holding everyone back because I wasn't feeling well.

STRUCTURE: 足(あし) (leg/foot) + を + 引(ひ)っ張(ぱ)る (to pull). Literally 'to pull someone's leg' - but unlike the English idiom, this means hindering, not joking.

NUANCE: Often used when someone unintentionally burdens others through:

  • Poor performance
  • Mistakes
  • Being unprepared
  • Health or personal issues

COMMON CONTEXTS:

  • Team sports and group work
  • Business projects
  • Family situations
  • Any collaborative effort

SELF-DEPRECATING USE: Commonly used humbly about oneself when worried about being a burden.

RELATED EXPRESSIONS:

  • 邪魔(じゃま)をする (to get in the way)
  • 迷惑(めいわく)をかける (to cause trouble for)
  • 足手(あして)まとい (a burden, hindrance)

OTHER 足(あし) EXPRESSIONS:

  • 足(あし)が出(で)る: to go over budget
  • 足(あし)を運(はこ)ぶ: to visit

Related Words

Related: 足(あし)が出(で)る (go over budget)
core
Added 2026.1.18 19:03 · Revised 2026.1.19 21:17
06500/06906_ashiwohipparu