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

There, at length, they came at a snails pace, the moonlight shining on their clothes.

From Project Gutenberg

At the same time this snails-pace gives one a chance to observe things as he goes along, and there is much to observe.

From Project Gutenberg

He was riding at a snails pace and fanning himself with a wide rimmed hat.

From Project Gutenberg

The land mail between this and Detroit crawls with snails pace.

From Project Gutenberg

It lumbers along lurchingly with stress, at a snails pace; noted of all the world.

From Project Gutenberg