snail's pace

noun

1. an extremely slow rate.

   The work progresses at a snail's pace.

snail's pace

noun

1. a very slow or sluggish speed or rate

Word History and Origins

Origin of snail's pace¹

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50

Idioms and Phrases

A very slow pace, as in They're making progress with testing the new vaccine, but at a snail's pace. [c. 1400]

Example Sentences

I have no idea why on days one, two, three or four we see the game played at a snail's pace.

From BBC

What stands out, however, was how the prosecution moved at a snail’s pace, facilitated by U.S.

From Salon

Not that this was snail's pace law-making, far from it.

From BBC

In South Africa, Africa's biggest economy and a major carbon emitter, a $8.5bn foreign-aided transition project from the coal-sector was already moving at a snail's pace, and now there are fears that it may get derailed further.

From BBC

Bob Blackman MP, who drafted the Act, criticised the "snail's pace" in enforcing it, adding action was needed urgently as the sector is a "ticking time bomb".

From BBC