What does “At a snail's pace” mean?
"At a snail's pace" means moving or progressing very slowly.
What context can I use the in?
Example
The traffic was moving at a snail's pace during rush hour.
Example
He was making progress on his project at a snail's pace.
Example
The line at the grocery store was moving at a snail's pace
Is “At a snail's pace” an expression, an idiom, or a proverb?
“At a snail's pace” is a proverb. A proverb is a short saying that teaches us something important or gives us advice. Unlike an idiom, it’s easy to understand even if it uses figurative language.
How would I use “At a snail's pace” effectively in context?
You can use "At a snail's pace" to describe something that is moving very slowly. It emphasizes the slowness and lack of progress in a situation. For example, if you're stuck in traffic, you might say, 'The cars were moving at a snail's pace during rush hour.'
- 1Traffic
The traffic was moving at a snail's pace during rush hour.
- 2Work
He was making progress on his project at a snail's pace.
- 3Waiting in line
The line at the grocery store was moving at a snail's pace.
Similar phrases to “At a snail's pace”:
To move very slowly
Example
The line at the amusement park was crawling.
Good things to know:
Where does the phrase “At a snail's pace” come from?
The origin of the phrase "At a snail's pace" is unknown.
Is “At a snail's pace” common in everyday conversation?
"At a snail's pace" is a common expression in everyday conversation. People often use it to describe slow-moving situations or to express frustration with the lack of progress.
What tone does “At a snail's pace” have?
"At a snail's pace" conveys a tone of impatience or annoyance. It's often used to express frustration with a slow-moving situation.
Can “At a snail's pace” be used in informal and formal settings?
"At a snail's pace" is a relatively informal expression. It's commonly used in casual conversations with friends, family, and colleagues. However, it can also be used in more formal settings to describe slow progress or delays.
Can it be used by itself, or is it usually part of a sentence?
"At a snail's pace" is typically used as part of a sentence to convey its full meaning. For example, 'The construction work was moving at a snail's pace.' However, in informal conversations, people might understand the phrase even if used alone, like saying 'This is taking forever, it's moving "at a snail's pace"!' to express frustration.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
- slowly
- at a snail's pace
- at a crawl
- at a glacial pace
- at a leisurely pace
- at a sluggish pace
- at a plodding pace
- at a tortoise-like pace
- at a slothful pace
- at a creeping pace
