snail's pace

American  

noun

1. an extremely slow rate.

   The work progresses at a snail's pace.

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snail's pace British  

noun

1. a very slow or sluggish speed or rate

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snail's pace Idioms  

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

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Etymology

Origin of snail's pace

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50

Example Sentences

But more than six months after the announcement, the status quo remains undisturbed as the DNC’s Middle East Working Group proceeds at a snail’s pace.

From Salon • Mar. 27, 2026

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

From BBC • Apr. 12, 2025

Disaster was averted thanks to a defense that stiffened and an offense that started moving the ball at something beyond a snail’s pace.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 31, 2024

That means the economy is not in a technical recession, though it’s expanding at a snail’s pace.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 10, 2024

A strong wind whipped up dust, debris, and gravel and forced the bus to slow down to a snail’s pace.

From "Breaking Through" by Francisco Jiménez