The phrase "a la rastra" is an idiomatic expression in Spanish that conveys the idea of doing something in a careless, sloppy, or dragged manner. It is often used in informal contexts to describe actions done without precision or care. The frequency of use tends to be more prevalent in oral speech as it is commonly used in conversational scenarios.
Los niños corrieron a la rastra por el parque.
The children ran sloppily through the park.
Hiciste el trabajo a la rastra, no tiene buena presentación.
You did the work carelessly; it doesn't look good.
Ella llegó a la rastra a la reunión porque perdió el autobús.
She arrived at the meeting in a drag because she missed the bus.
The phrase "a la rastra" itself can be included in several idiomatic expressions and might also relate to other terms that denote sloppiness or lack of care.
Llevar a la rastra a alguien.
To drag someone along.
No quiero llevar a la rastra a mi hermano cuando no quiere ir.
I don't want to drag my brother along when he doesn't want to go.
Trabajar a la rastra.
To work carelessly.
Si sigues trabajando a la rastra, nunca terminarás a tiempo.
If you keep working sloppily, you will never finish on time.
Hacer las cosas a la rastra.
To do things hastily or carelessly.
No es bueno hacer las cosas a la rastra, mejor tómate tu tiempo.
It's not good to do things hastily; it's better to take your time.
Vestirse a la rastra.
To dress in a sloppy manner.
Salió a la tienda vestida a la rastra, no parecía estar preparada.
She went out to the store dressed sloppily; she didn't seem ready.
The phrase "a la rastra" is derived from the Spanish noun "rastra," which translates to "drag" or "track"—often linked to dragging something along the ground. This term connotes a sense of sloppiness or carelessness, implying something is being dragged rather than moved with purpose or care.