25 Idioms For Slow

In both everyday conversation and literature, we often need to describe things that happen slowly. Whether it’s a slow process, a sluggish task, or a person moving at a relaxed pace, there are numerous idioms in English that help capture these moments. From “moving at a snail’s pace” to “like watching paint dry,” these expressions vividly depict slowness in ways that are relatable and colorful.

In this article, we’ll explore 25 idioms for slow, offering a range of idiomatic expressions that can be used to describe everything from boring situations to long, drawn-out processes. Understanding these idioms will allow you to add more depth to your language and give you fun ways to express the idea of slowness.

1. Like watching paint dry

Meaning: Something that is extremely slow and boring
In a Sentence:
– “The meeting felt like watching paint dry; it was so boring and took forever.”
– “Waiting for the test results was like watching paint dry, I kept checking my phone in anticipation.”
Other Ways to Say: Tedious / Uninteresting

2. At a snail’s pace

Meaning: To move or progress very slowly
In a Sentence:
– “The traffic was moving at a snail’s pace, and we were getting frustrated.”
– “The project is moving at a snail’s pace due to constant delays.”
Other Ways to Say: Extremely slow / Crawling

3. Like molasses in winter

Meaning: To be very slow-moving, especially when something should be moving faster
In a Sentence:
– “The internet was like molasses in winter, taking forever to load the page.”
– “The line at the post office was like molasses in winter; it seemed to take forever.”
Other Ways to Say: Very slow / Sluggish

4. Slow as a tortoise

Meaning: To be very slow, like a tortoise
In a Sentence:
– “His response to the email was slow as a tortoise, and it took days to get a reply.”
– “The project was moving as slow as a tortoise, and it was frustrating everyone.”
Other Ways to Say: Very slow / Crawling

5. Slow off the mark

Meaning: To be slow to start or respond, especially when others are acting quickly
In a Sentence:
– “He was slow off the mark in the race, but he caught up with the leaders by the end.”
– “The team was slow off the mark with their preparations for the event.”
Other Ways to Say: Delayed / Behind

6. Slow and steady wins the race

Meaning: The idea that consistent, slow effort is often more successful than rushing
In a Sentence:
– “You don’t need to rush through the process—remember, slow and steady wins the race.”
– “She applied the slow and steady method to her studies and passed with flying colors.”
Other Ways to Say: Patience is key / Consistency is important

7. A long time in the making

Meaning: Something that has taken a lot of time to develop or finish
In a Sentence:
– “The plan was a long time in the making, but it’s finally ready to launch.”
– “The novel was a long time in the making, but it was worth every minute of effort.”
Other Ways to Say: A long process / Years of work

8. Take it slow

Meaning: To do something at a relaxed or easy pace, often suggesting no need to rush
In a Sentence:
– “Take it slow during the hike; there’s no need to rush and tire yourself out.”
– “She decided to take it slow and enjoy the journey instead of rushing through it.”
Other Ways to Say: Move at a relaxed pace / Don’t rush

9. Crawl at a pace

Meaning: To move very slowly, often to the point of being frustrating
In a Sentence:
– “The traffic is crawling at a pace, and we’re barely moving.”
– “The line at the checkout counter was crawling at a pace, and I was getting impatient.”
Other Ways to Say: Move slowly / Drag on

10. Take one’s time

Meaning: To do something slowly and without rushing, often to ensure quality or thoroughness
In a Sentence:
– “Take your time with the project; there’s no need to hurry and make mistakes.”
– “He took his time choosing the perfect gift for her, wanting it to be just right.”
Other Ways to Say: Don’t rush / Be patient

11. A slow burn

Meaning: A gradual development or escalation, especially in a situation that becomes more intense over time
In a Sentence:
– “The tension in the meeting was a slow burn, gradually escalating until it couldn’t be ignored.”
– “His anger was a slow burn, building over weeks before he finally confronted his colleague.”
Other Ways to Say: Gradual build-up / Growing intensity

12. Slow-witted

Meaning: Someone who is slow to understand or respond, often used humorously or critically
In a Sentence:
– “He’s a little slow-witted when it comes to picking up on social cues.”
– “Don’t be too hard on her; she’s just a bit slow-witted, but she catches on eventually.”
Other Ways to Say: Slow to understand / Not quick on the uptake

13. In no rush

Meaning: Not in a hurry, taking one’s time
In a Sentence:
– “There’s no rush to finish the assignment; you can take your time and do it well.”
– “We’re in no rush to leave, so let’s enjoy the moment.”
Other Ways to Say: No hurry / Take your time

14. As slow as molasses

Meaning: To be extremely slow, especially when something should be faster
In a Sentence:
– “The project is moving as slow as molasses, and we’re running out of time.”
– “Her internet connection is as slow as molasses, making it hard to get any work done.”
Other Ways to Say: Very slow / Crawling

15. A watch pot never boils

Meaning: When you’re constantly waiting for something, it seems like it takes much longer
In a Sentence:
– “Stop checking the clock every minute—remember, a watch pot never boils!”
– “Waiting for my results was a nightmare; a watch pot never boils.”
Other Ways to Say: Patience is key / Time seems longer when waiting

16. A long haul

Meaning: A long, difficult, or slow journey or process
In a Sentence:
– “Getting the company back on track is going to be a long haul, but we’re committed to the effort.”
– “The road to recovery after surgery is a long haul, but she’s doing great.”
Other Ways to Say: Long process / Hard journey

17. Take the scenic route

Meaning: To take a longer or slower route, often to enjoy the journey rather than rush to the destination
In a Sentence:
– “We decided to take the scenic route and enjoy the beautiful countryside on our road trip.”
– “Instead of rushing through life, she prefers to take the scenic route and appreciate the little things.”
Other Ways to Say: Enjoy the journey / Go at a relaxed pace

18. Draw things out

Meaning: To prolong or extend something, often unnecessarily or to delay
In a Sentence:
– “They’re drawing things out with all these meetings; we just need to make a decision.”
– “Stop drawing things out and get to the point.”
Other Ways to Say: Prolong / Delay

19. A slow start

Meaning: To begin something in a slow or unhurried manner, often with little progress in the beginning
In a Sentence:
– “The project had a slow start, but we made up for it by working overtime.”
– “His career had a slow start, but he eventually became a successful entrepreneur.”
Other Ways to Say: Take time to start / Gradual beginning

20. Go at a crawl

Meaning: To move very slowly, often frustratingly so
In a Sentence:
– “The traffic was going at a crawl during rush hour.”
– “The clock seemed to go at a crawl when I was waiting for the news.”
Other Ways to Say: Move slowly / Crawl along

21. Slow as a slug

Meaning: To be extremely slow, like a slug moving at a very gradual pace
In a Sentence:
– “The line at the store was slow as a slug, and we were getting restless.”
– “His progress on the task was slow as a slug, and we were starting to worry about deadlines.”
Other Ways to Say: Very slow / Crawling

22. Take your sweet time

Meaning: To take as long as you want, often implying that there’s no urgency
In a Sentence:
– “You can take your sweet time, there’s no rush to finish the task.”
– “She took her sweet time enjoying the coffee, savoring every sip.”
Other Ways to Say: Don’t hurry / Take all the time you need

23. Move at a glacial pace

Meaning: To move extremely slowly, like a glacier
In a Sentence:
– “The approval process is moving at a glacial pace, and we might miss the deadline.”
– “His recovery was at a glacial pace, but we remained hopeful.”
Other Ways to Say: Move very slowly / Crawl

24. Takes forever

Meaning: To be so slow that it feels like it will never finish
In a Sentence:
– “This project is taking forever, but we’ll get it done eventually.”
– “Waiting for the bus always takes forever in the rain.”
Other Ways to Say: Extremely slow / Feels endless

25. A drawn-out process

Meaning: Something that takes a long time to complete, often unnecessarily so
In a Sentence:
– “The negotiations turned into a drawn-out process with no real resolution.”
– “The exam results were part of a drawn-out process that took weeks to finalize.”
Other Ways to Say: Prolonged process / Extended procedure

Practice Exercise

Fill in the blanks using the correct idiom from the list:

1. Waiting for the traffic lights to change felt like __________.
2. The meeting was so boring it felt like __________, I couldn’t focus.
3. The progress on the project is moving __________, but we’ll get there eventually.
4. The project had a __________ but it picked up speed after a few weeks.
5. Don’t keep checking your email; remember, __________.
6. The internet connection is __________, and it’s so frustrating to work with.
7. It was a __________, and she took forever to decide on the venue.
8. The work is __________, but with enough effort, we can complete it.
9. He was __________ during the race, but still finished strong.
10. I know this is a tough exam, but remember: __________ and you’ll get it right.
11. We’ve been waiting for our order for over an hour—it’s moving __________.
12. I had a __________ during my presentation, but I finally managed to finish.
13. I’ve been waiting for the results all day—it’s taking __________.
14. We should just __________ and take the time we need to plan everything properly.
15. That story dragged on __________, but it finally reached the point.

Answer Key

1. Like watching paint dry
2. Like watching paint dry
3. At a snail’s pace
4. A slow start
5. A watched pot never boils
6. Like molasses in winter
7. Slow as a tortoise
8. A long time in the making
9. Slow off the mark
10. Slow and steady wins the race
11. As slow as molasses
12. Slow off the mark
13. A watch pot never boils
14. Take it slow
15. Like molasses in winter

Conclusion

The expression of slowness in English often extends beyond just physical movement; it also encapsulates the feeling of time dragging on or the tedious nature of a process. These 21 idioms for slow offer a colorful and varied way to describe everything from how fast things are moving to the patience required to get through long tasks. Whether you’re waiting for something to happen, watching a process unfold, or simply feeling the passage of time, these idioms provide a rich vocabulary to express the concept of slowness in dynamic ways.

Mastering these idioms not only enhances your communication but also adds depth to your conversations, helping you express impatience, frustration, or the beauty of taking things at a slower pace. Keep practicing these idioms to increase your fluency and understanding of how we talk about time and speed in the English language.