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snail
at a snail's pace
Very slowly (as a snail is known to move very slowly). My research is moving at a snail's pace—every experiment I've tried so far has failed. We'll never get there on time with you driving at a snail's pace!
at a snail's pace
and at a snail's gallopvery slowly. Things are moving along at a snail's pace here, but we'll finish on time—have no fear. Poor old Wally is creeping at a snail's gallop because his car has a flat tire.
at a snail's pace
very slowly The action moves at a snail's pace in this film, as if all the characters were asleep.
Etymology: from the fact that a snail (a small animal with a round shell) moves very slowly
at a snail's pace
very slowly
Usage notes: A snail is a small animal with a shell that moves very slowly.
The roads were full of traffic and we were travelling at a snail's pace. snail mail
(humorous) the system of sending letters through the post What's your preferred means of communication? Fax, email or snail mail?
snail mail
Ordinary postal service, as opposed to electronic communications. For example, He hasn't taken to his computer so he's still using snail mail. This slangy idiom, alluding to the alleged slowness of the snail, caught on at least partly for its rhyme. [1980s]
snail's pace
A very slow pace, as in They're making progress with testing the new vaccine, but at a snail's pace. [c. 1400]
at a snail’s pace
and at a snail’s gallop mod. very slowly. Poor old Willy is creeping at a snail’s gallop because his car has a flat tire. The building project is coming along at a snail’s pace.
at a snail’s gallop
verbsnail-mail
n. post office mail; regular mail as opposed to electronic mail. (Refers to the slowness of regular mail in comparison to electronic mail or faxes.) There are lots of color pictures in the article, so I will send you the original by snail-mail.