expression, noun
mutual obstruction; pulling each other down; hindering each other's success
Idiomatic expression describing a situation where people in a group actively or passively prevent each other from succeeding, often through criticism, rivalry, or lack of cooperation.
あの部署は足の引っ張り合いがひどくて、プロジェクトが進まない。
In that department, they're constantly pulling each other down, so the project doesn't move forward.
政治家同士の足の引っ張り合いで、改革が遅れている。
Reform is being delayed by politicians getting in each other's way.
The verb phrase meaning 'to pull someone's leg' figuratively, i.e., to hinder or sabotage an individual. 足の引っ張り合い is the noun form describing the mutual, reciprocal action among multiple people.
From 足 (leg) + の (possessive particle) + 引っ張り合い (mutual pulling, from 引っ張る 'to pull' + 合う 'each other'). The literal image of people pulling each other's legs extended to mean mutual obstruction or backbiting.