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

They moved along at a snail's pace, the mud dragging at their boots.

From Literature

Even when Kok and Leerdam were warming up, gliding by at a snail’s pace compared to skaters during their race, the crowd cheered, the skating stars in acknowledgement.

From Los Angeles Times

Linzi Hanscomb owns the Snail's Pace Cafe at Wenfordbridge - next to one of the car parks where a £2 daily fee could be introduced.

From BBC

Everything slowed to a snail's pace and the backlog exploded.

From BBC

“Why am I stalling? Why are you stalling? You’re moving at a snail’s pace!”

From Literature