slow

*slow as molasses in January and slower than molasses in January

very slow-moving. (*Also: as ~.) Can't you get dressed any faster? I declare, you're as slow as molasses in January. The traffic on the way to the concert was slower than molasses in January.

See also: January, molasses

slow someone or something up and slow someone or something down

to cause someone or something to reduce speed. I'm in a hurry. Don't try to slow me down. Please slow up the train. There are sheep near the track.

See also: up

slow and steady wins the race

Prov. If you work slowly but constantly, you will succeed better than if you work fast for a short while and do not continue. (Associated with Aesop's fable of "The Tortoise and the Hare.") Joy only had a little bit of time to spend sewing every day, but she worked steadily and soon had finished a beautiful quilt. Slow and steady wins the race.

See also: and, race, steady, win

slow but sure and slowly but surely

slow but unstoppable. Bob's progress on his novel was slow but sure. Nancy is finishing the paint job on her house, slowly but surely.

See also: but, sure

slow down

to decrease speed; to go slower. Please slow down. You are going too fast.

slow going

the rate of speed when one is making slow progress. It was slow going at first, but I was able to finish the project by the weekend. Getting the heavy rocks out of the field is slow going.

See also: going

slow off the mark 

1. Lit. slow in starting or reacting. (Compare this with quick off the mark.) If you are always that slow off the mark you will never win the race. Boy, you were slow off the mark there!

2. Fig. slow-witted. The guy's slow off the mark but very friendly. Yes, I'm afraid Tony is a bit slow off the mark when it comes to trigonometry.

See also: mark

slow on the draw 

1. Lit. slow in drawing a gun. (Cowboy and gangster talk.) Bill got shot because he's so slow on the draw. The gunslinger said, "I have to be fast. If I'm slow on the draw, I'm dead."

2. and slow on the uptake Fig. slow to figure something out; slow-thinking. Sally didn't get the joke because she's sort of slow on the draw. Bill—who's slow on the uptake—didn't get the joke until it was explained to him.

See also: draw

slow study

a person who is slow to learn things. (Compare this to a slow study.) Fred, who is a slow study, never caught on to the joke.

See also: study

slow up

to go slower; to reduce speed in order for someone or something to catch up. slow up a little! I can't keep up with you! Please slow up. I can't follow your lecture when you talk so fast.

See also: up

take it slow

to go slowly and carefully. Just relax and take it slow. You've got a good chance. You'll make it. Take it slow and keep your spirits up.

See also: take

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be slow off the mark

to be slow to act or to react to an event or situation The federal government was criticized for being slow off the mark in helping towns hit by the recent hurricane.

See also: mark

be slow on the uptake

to be slow to understand new ideas I tried to explain the new database, but they were remarkably slow on the uptake.

See also: uptake

do a slow burn  (American & Australian informal)

to have a feeling of anger that gradually increases As he heard more about the plan to develop the area for industrial use he started doing a slow burn.

See also: burn

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slow on the uptake

not able to understand something quickly I tried to explain how the new software works to my manager, but he's a little slow on the uptake.

Usage notes: also used in the form quick on the uptake (able to understand something quickly): He was quick on the uptake and able to realize right away what was wrong.

See also: uptake