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

If they are, they are doing it at a snail's pace.

From BBC

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