Idioms are fun and colorful phrases that make our language more interesting. They don’t always mean exactly what the words say, but they help us express feelings and ideas in creative ways. When it comes to describing something slow—whether it’s a person, a process, or even a decision—there’s a wide variety of idioms that can bring life and humor to your conversations.
Understanding idioms related to slowness can help you talk about situations where things feel like they’re dragging on or moving at a snail’s pace. These expressions are useful in everyday speech and writing, especially when you want to add personality or emphasis to how slow something really is.
In this article, you’ll explore 46 idioms that all express some form of slowness. You’ll learn what they mean, how to use them in long, real-life sentences, and other similar phrases you can say instead. Let’s take a slow stroll through the world of slow idioms!
Idioms for Slow
1. At a snail’s pace
Meaning: Extremely slow movement or progress.
In a Sentence: The traffic was moving at a snail’s pace this morning, and even though I left home early, I still arrived at school twenty minutes late because the cars barely moved an inch for what felt like an eternity.
Other Ways to Say: Very slowly, Like a crawl
2. Slow as molasses
Meaning: Very slow, especially annoyingly so.
In a Sentence: My grandmother’s old desktop computer is slow as molasses in January, and trying to open just one website feels like I’ve stepped into a time machine that only moves backward.
Other Ways to Say: Sluggish, Dragging on
3. Drag one’s feet
Meaning: To delay doing something or be unwilling to act quickly.
In a Sentence: Every time I ask my little brother to take out the trash or help clean the kitchen, he drags his feet like the floor is made of glue, and somehow he manages to take an hour doing something that should only take ten minutes.
Other Ways to Say: Stall, Procrastinate
4. Take one’s sweet time
Meaning: To do something at a leisurely, unhurried pace, often frustrating others.
In a Sentence: We were all dressed and ready to leave for the family dinner, but my sister took her sweet time fixing her makeup, choosing her outfit, and rechecking her hair five times while the rest of us waited impatiently in the car.
Other Ways to Say: Go slowly, Not in a hurry
5. In no hurry
Meaning: Not feeling any urgency or rush.
In a Sentence: While everyone was packing up and rushing to catch the last bus home, Jeremy acted like he was in no hurry at all and just continued casually flipping through his comic book as if the world around him wasn’t moving.
Other Ways to Say: Taking it easy, Moving slowly
6. Move at a glacial pace
Meaning: To move or progress extremely slowly, like a glacier.
In a Sentence: The construction on that bridge has been moving at a glacial pace, and after two whole years of delays, all they’ve done is put up a few orange cones and dig some holes.
Other Ways to Say: Move very slowly, Progress at a crawl
7. Like watching paint dry
Meaning: Something very boring or slow to the point of being painful to watch.
In a Sentence: Sitting through that three-hour online lecture about tax law was like watching paint dry, and I genuinely struggled to keep my eyes open past the first ten minutes.
Other Ways to Say: Extremely boring, Mind-numbingly slow
8. Plod along
Meaning: To move or progress slowly and steadily, without much energy or excitement.
In a Sentence: Even though the project was simple, our group just plodded along without much enthusiasm, and what should’ve taken one afternoon somehow turned into an entire week of slow progress.
Other Ways to Say: Trudge forward, Move slowly but steadily
9. Rome wasn’t built in a day
Meaning: Important work takes time, and things don’t happen quickly.
In a Sentence: When I complained that my painting wasn’t turning out the way I wanted, my art teacher reminded me that Rome wasn’t built in a day and encouraged me to take my time to perfect the details instead of rushing.
Other Ways to Say: Take your time, Patience is key
10. A slow burn
Meaning: Something that builds up gradually over time.
In a Sentence: Our friendship was a slow burn; we didn’t instantly connect, but over the school year, we found we had so much in common that now we talk every single day.
Other Ways to Say: Gradual progress, Builds up slowly
11. Inching forward
Meaning: To move forward very slowly, almost unnoticeably.
In a Sentence: As we stood in the massive line for the roller coaster, it felt like we were only inching forward every few minutes, and I started to wonder if we’d make it on the ride before the park closed.
Other Ways to Say: Crawling ahead, Barely moving
12. Like molasses in winter
Meaning: Extremely slow, even more so than usual.
In a Sentence: The Wi-Fi in the cabin was like molasses in winter, and it took so long to load one page that I gave up and decided to go outside and build a snowman instead.
Other Ways to Say: Frozen slow, Painfully sluggish
13. Slow going
Meaning: Progress that is happening, but very gradually.
In a Sentence: The hike up the steep trail was slow going, especially with our heavy backpacks and muddy paths, but we kept pushing forward because we knew the view at the top would be worth it.
Other Ways to Say: Steady but slow, Taking a while
14. Take forever
Meaning: To take an extremely long time to complete something.
In a Sentence: I asked my friend to edit just one paragraph of my essay, but he took forever analyzing every single word like he was writing a college thesis on sentence structure.
Other Ways to Say: Drag on, Never-ending
15. Move like a turtle
Meaning: To move at a very slow pace, like a turtle.
In a Sentence: My little cousin moves like a turtle when it’s time to brush his teeth, and it honestly takes more time to get him to the bathroom than to do the brushing itself.
Other Ways to Say: Extremely slow, Crawling
16. Creep along
Meaning: To move in a very slow and quiet way.
In a Sentence: The fog was so thick on the road that we had to creep along with our headlights on low beam, barely able to see more than a few feet ahead.
Other Ways to Say: Move slowly, Edge forward carefully
17. Time stands still
Meaning: It feels like time isn’t passing at all, often during slow or emotional moments.
In a Sentence: As I waited nervously for my turn to speak on stage, it felt like time stood still and each second stretched out like a full minute.
Other Ways to Say: Time freezes, Everything slows down
18. Tread water
Meaning: To make no real progress while trying to maintain your position.
In a Sentence: I’ve been trying to study for finals while keeping up with my part-time job, but honestly, I feel like I’m just treading water and not getting ahead in anything.
Other Ways to Say: Stuck in place, Not moving forward
19. Take ages
Meaning: Something takes a very long time to finish or happen.
In a Sentence: It took ages for the new episode of the show to be released, and by the time it came out, I had to rewatch the last season just to remember what happened.
Other Ways to Say: So long, Endless wait
20. Move like a sloth
Meaning: To move extremely slowly, similar to how a sloth moves.
In a Sentence: On weekends, my brother moves like a sloth from his bed to the couch, taking his time as if walking five steps was the biggest task of the day.
Other Ways to Say: Super sluggish, Lazy pace
21. Slow on the uptake
Meaning: Taking a long time to understand or realize something.
In a Sentence: I’ll admit I’m a little slow on the uptake when it comes to math, because even though the teacher explained it three times, I still needed a friend to walk me through it again after class.
Other Ways to Say: Slow to understand, Needs more time
22. A drawn-out process
Meaning: Something that takes more time than it should, usually unnecessarily.
In a Sentence: Getting my driver’s license turned into such a drawn-out process with endless forms, long wait times, and five separate visits to the DMV.
Other Ways to Say: Long and slow, Overly stretched
23. In slow motion
Meaning: Happening so slowly that it almost feels unreal or exaggerated.
In a Sentence: When the glass slipped off the counter and shattered on the floor, it felt like it all happened in slow motion and I couldn’t stop it even though I saw it happening right in front of me.
Other Ways to Say: Delayed, Gradual
24. Crawl to the finish
Meaning: To barely make it to the end of something due to slowness or exhaustion.
In a Sentence: After staying up all night writing my essay, I crawled to the finish by typing the last sentence just minutes before the deadline, feeling like my brain was running on empty.
Other Ways to Say: Struggle to finish, Barely make it
25. Snail trail
Meaning: A visible mark or path left behind by someone or something slow.
In a Sentence: My sleepy cat left a little snail trail of fur across the couch as she slowly dragged herself from one nap spot to another like a queen in no rush at all.
Other Ways to Say: Slow path, Trail behind
26. Take it slow
Meaning: To proceed with caution or at an easy pace.
In a Sentence: When I sprained my ankle during gym class, the doctor told me to take it slow with walking and give my foot time to heal properly before doing any sports again.
Other Ways to Say: Go easy, Don’t rush
27. As slow as a tortoise
Meaning: Very slow, often humorously so.
In a Sentence: He moves through his morning routine as slow as a tortoise, brushing his teeth like it’s a meditation session and tying his shoes like each knot holds the secrets of the universe.
Other Ways to Say: Extremely slow, Sluggish
28. Lag behind
Meaning: To fall behind others in progress or movement.
In a Sentence: During our class field trip, I kept lagging behind the group because I stopped to read every single sign and take pictures of things most people just walked past.
Other Ways to Say: Trail behind, Not keeping up
29. Take baby steps
Meaning: To make slow and small progress toward a goal.
In a Sentence: I know learning a new language is tough, but I’m taking baby steps by learning five new words each day and practicing them in short conversations.
Other Ways to Say: Move gradually, One step at a time
30. Put the brakes on
Meaning: To slow something down intentionally or stop progress.
In a Sentence: The school put the brakes on our student project until we got full approval from the principal and submitted a detailed plan for safety.
Other Ways to Say: Slow it down, Put it on pause
31. A slowpoke
Meaning: A person who moves or acts slowly.
In a Sentence: Everyone calls my cousin a slowpoke because even when we’re late, she calmly sips her juice and strolls out the door like she’s early for everything.
Other Ways to Say: Tardy person, Slower than others
32. A long haul
Meaning: Something that takes a long time and steady effort.
In a Sentence: Studying for medical school is definitely a long haul, but those who stay consistent and don’t rush end up mastering the knowledge better.
Other Ways to Say: Marathon, Long journey
33. Let things unfold
Meaning: To allow events to happen naturally and slowly over time.
In a Sentence: Instead of rushing into a decision, I’ve decided to let things unfold and see what new opportunities show up in the next few weeks.
Other Ways to Say: Let it play out, Wait and see
34. Slowed to a crawl
Meaning: Something that’s moving incredibly slowly, nearly stopping.
In a Sentence: After the rain started pouring, the traffic on the highway slowed to a crawl, and we barely moved more than a car length every ten minutes.
Other Ways to Say: Creep forward, Barely moving
35. Stretch out the process
Meaning: To make something take longer than necessary.
In a Sentence: My friend always manages to stretch out the process of writing an essay by spending three hours choosing fonts and adjusting margins before actually typing the first sentence.
Other Ways to Say: Delay it, Make it longer
36. As slow as a snail on vacation
Meaning: Humorously describing someone or something moving ridiculously slow.
In a Sentence: My dad walks as slow as a snail on vacation when we’re shopping, stopping at every single aisle like he’s sightseeing in a museum.
Other Ways to Say: Painfully slow, Comically sluggish
37. Slower than cold honey
Meaning: Unbelievably slow, with an image of something sticky and unmoving.
In a Sentence: Trying to download that game with the school Wi-Fi was slower than cold honey, and I gave up after an hour of staring at the loading bar.
Other Ways to Say: Glacial pace, No progress
38. Linger over
Meaning: To stay longer or take more time than necessary.
In a Sentence: We lingered over breakfast at the café, sipping our drinks and chatting for so long that we nearly missed our next appointment.
Other Ways to Say: Take time, Stay too long
39. On a go-slow
Meaning: Moving at a reduced pace, often as a form of protest or deliberate slowdown.
In a Sentence: The workers were on a go-slow this week to express their disagreement with the new management policies, so everything took twice as long to complete.
Other Ways to Say: Slow protest, Slowed down on purpose
40. Slow and steady wins the race
Meaning: Being consistent and patient leads to success.
In a Sentence: Even though I didn’t study in long stretches, my slow and steady approach of reviewing a little each night helped me ace the exam without last-minute panic.
Other Ways to Say: Stay consistent, Patience pays off
41. Ease into it
Meaning: To begin something slowly and gradually.
In a Sentence: I decided to ease into my new workout routine by doing light stretching and beginner exercises before jumping into anything intense.
Other Ways to Say: Start slow, Gently begin
42. A sluggish pace
Meaning: Moving very slowly and lacking energy.
In a Sentence: Our group was working at such a sluggish pace that we barely finished half the poster by the end of class, even though we had all the materials ready.
Other Ways to Say: Slow and lazy, Lacking speed
43. A slow grind
Meaning: A long, tiresome, and gradual effort.
In a Sentence: Writing my college application essays has been a slow grind, but I know that putting in effort every day will get me closer to finishing them.
Other Ways to Say: Hard and steady work, Gradual process
44. Take it one step at a time
Meaning: To go slowly by doing each part in order.
In a Sentence: Learning how to bake a cake from scratch can feel overwhelming, but if you take it one step at a time and follow the instructions, it becomes much easier.
Other Ways to Say: Step-by-step, Don’t rush
45. Downshift
Meaning: To reduce speed or effort, like shifting gears in a car.
In a Sentence: After finishing a busy semester, I decided to downshift over the holidays by sleeping in, spending time offline, and focusing on rest instead of productivity.
Other Ways to Say: Slow down, Relax more
46. Slow to a halt
Meaning: Gradually coming to a complete stop.
In a Sentence: As the sun set and the park emptied out, the laughter and footsteps faded, and the day slowly came to a halt like a movie ending in slow motion.
Other Ways to Say: Gradual stop, End slowly
Practical Exercise
Fill in the blanks with the correct idiom for slow:
- When I tried to explain the math problem, she was a bit ________ and needed a few minutes to understand.
- The project moved ________ because no one really cared about finishing on time.
- I like to ________ when it comes to making big decisions so I don’t regret them later.
- The download was so bad, it was ________, and I gave up trying.
- The vacation vibe made everything feel like it was happening ________, with no pressure at all.
- We had to ________ because we were so exhausted from walking around all day.
- He walked ________ to avoid going back to class after lunch.
- Even though I’m behind now, I believe ________ will help me win in the end.
- My groupmate was a total ________ when it came to getting things done.
- I’m not rushing into this change—I want to ________ and see how it feels first.
Answers:
slow on the uptake, at a snail’s pace, take it slow, slower than cold honey, in slow motion, ease into it, dragging his feet, slow and steady wins the race, slowpoke, ease into it
Conclusion
Idioms are a fun and powerful way to bring flavor and clarity to your communication. When things are slow—whether in school, life, or relationships—these idioms help you explain what’s happening in a more relatable and interesting way. From “at a snail’s pace” to “slow and steady wins the race,” these expressions can help you describe moments of delay, patience, or even boredom with creativity and humor.
The more you use these idioms in daily conversations, the more naturally they’ll become part of how you express yourself. So next time things are going slow, try out one of these phrases and watch how it makes your storytelling more colorful and fun!