“...his foot-dragging over the matter had pushed his marriage to the brink.” What does "foot-dragging" mean as used in the novel?

"Foot-dragging" is an idiomatic expression that means deliberately delaying action or being slow and reluctant to do something that needs to be done. It comes from the image of someone literally dragging their feet while walking, moving as slowly as possible because they do not want to reach their destination.

In the sentence, the character's foot-dragging "pushed his marriage to the brink." This means his reluctance to act promptly on an important matter caused so much damage that his marriage was nearly destroyed. The context makes it clear that the delay was harmful, not thoughtful or productive.

The other options are the opposite of what the idiom means:

• "Quick decision making" is the direct opposite of foot-dragging.
• "Unnecessary excitement" has no connection to delay or reluctance.
• "Thoughtful consideration" might sound similar to taking one's time, but foot-dragging implies unhelpful stalling, not careful reflection. The negative consequence (pushing marriage to the brink) confirms that this was irresponsible delay, not wise caution.