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Ich bin ein bisschen spät dran zum Welttag der Suizidprävention aber bei der Wichtigkeit dieses Themas ...

The emboldening is mine. What is the grammar and meaning of dran here? The word seemed superfluous to me. It is colloquial? or is it necessary? I would think ...spät zum Welttag... would be acceptable German. Am I wrong?

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The relant verb phrase is spät dran sein — to be sort of late. In contrast spät sein just means to be late.

The phrase ein bisschen spät dran sein is even more excusing. The meaning is something along to be sort of a little late.

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  • Thank you, Janka! I suspected there might be an idiom in there...
    – Ben Weaver
    Commented Sep 14, 2023 at 18:51
  • I would have considered spät sein as either an anglicism or a poor translation. If dran is dropped, I recommend to change the verb e.g. to kommen.
    – guidot ♦
    Commented Sep 16, 2023 at 22:01

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