How to describe a cloak touching the ground behind you as you walk?
Solution 1:
The example you provided is perfectly correct. Both the Oxford English dictionary1 and Merriam-Webster2 agree that trail (verb) implies something is touching the ground, especially when used transitively like you have. Even in the non-transitive sense, it still means the same thing. I.e. "His cloak was long enough to trail behind him" or rather "His cloak was so long it trailed behind him".
A few other ways to express the length of his cloak:
- "His cloak was long enough to touch the ground behind him."
The most simple way to describe it, requires basic English vocabulary.
- "His cloak was long enough to graze the ground behind him."
This implies the cloak is touching the floor while moving, adds a sense of animalistic behavior.
- "His cloak was long enough to brush the ground behind him."
This implies the cloak is touching the floor with some force or resistance, possibly making a noise as well, adds a sense of power.
- "His cloak was long enough to sweep the ground behind him."
This implies the cloak is touching the floor in a smooth, effortless way, adds a sense of elegance.
- "His cloak was long enough to dust the ground behind him."
This implies the cloak is touching the floor but also picking up debris and/or other particles as it moves along, adds a sense of uncleanliness.
ref
- oxfordlearnersdictionaries
- merriam-webster
Solution 2:
It is odd to say "his cloak trailed the ground", while "trail" can be a transitive verb, it means to track when used in this way. You might want to say "his cloak trailed along the ground". You could also say "his cloak swept the ground behind him". That has a somewhat more literary tone. Or "his cloak brushed the ground" if you wanted to indicate that the cloak was not constantly in contact with the ground, but made occasional contact as he walked.