There’s something charming about the way the British have a word or phrase for just about everything, especially when it comes to the slower moments in life.
Whether it’s a friend who can’t seem to hurry or a computer that’s loading at a glacial pace, British slang has got you covered with a variety of creative terms.
This article takes a closer look at some of the most amusing and widely used British expressions for when things are moving just a tad slower than preferred.
Ready for a leisurely exploration of these phrases?
Let’s dive in and discover the art of describing slowness in true British style.
British Slang For Slow
Ambling
“Ambling” refers to moving slowly, enjoying a casual, unhurried pace.
It’s often used to describe a way of walking that’s more about enjoying the journey than rushing to the destination.
This term captures the essence of taking one’s time, embodying a laid-back approach to movement that’s as much about the experience as it is about getting from point A to point B.
Examples in sentences:
- “We spent the afternoon ambling through the park, soaking up the sunshine.”
- “He has a habit of ambling into work, never in a rush.”
- “The couple ambled along the beach, lost in conversation.”
- “There’s no better way to explore the city than by ambling through its streets.”
- “She ambled through the market, taking in all the sights and sounds.”
Bumbling
“Bumbling” describes a lack of speed or efficiency, often due to clumsiness or confusion.
It’s not just about being slow; it’s about the somewhat chaotic process that leads to the slowness.
This term paints a picture of someone who’s perhaps endearingly inept, making their way through tasks or movements with a charming lack of grace.
Examples in sentences:
- “The bumbling detective somehow managed to solve the case despite his clumsiness.”
- “She bumbled through her presentation, mixing up her notes.”
- “The team’s bumbling efforts were frustrating but eventually successful.”
- “He bumbled his way through the dance routine, always a step behind.”
- “Despite bumbling at first, she quickly became proficient in her new hobby.”
Crawling
“Crawling” is used both literally and figuratively to describe extremely slow progress.
Whether it’s traffic moving at a snail’s pace or a project advancing inch by inch, crawling implies a frustrating level of slowness that tests patience and highlights the need for acceleration.
Examples in sentences:
- “Traffic was crawling this morning; it took me an hour to get to work.”
- “The internet is crawling; I can’t get any work done.”
- “Progress on the new building is crawling; it won’t be finished on time.”
- “He was crawling through the last few pages of the book, eager to finish.”
- “The line at the post office was crawling, moving forward inch by inch.”
Dawdling
“Dawdling” captures the essence of intentional slowness, where someone takes their time not out of necessity but out of a desire to delay or simply enjoy the moment.
It’s often used in a mildly reproachful way to describe someone who’s taking longer than expected, especially when there’s a schedule to keep.
Examples in sentences:
- “Stop dawdling and get ready, or we’ll be late!”
- “He was dawdling over his breakfast, with no sense of urgency.”
- “She dawdled back home, not eager to return to her chores.”
- “The project team was dawdling, putting the deadline at risk.”
- “Despite the teacher’s warnings, he continued to dawdle through his work.”
Dallying
“Dallying” involves taking more time than necessary to complete tasks or make decisions, often due to a lack of urgency or a desire to prolong the process.
While similar to dilly-dallying, dallying lacks the connotation of back-and-forth indecision, focusing more on the leisurely pace at which tasks are approached.
Examples in sentences:
- “He was dallying over the details, making the meeting drag on.”
- “Stop dallying and start packing; our flight leaves in a few hours!”
- “She dallying in the garden, taking her time with every plant.”
- “Dallying on the way to school, he arrived just as the bell rang.”
- “Their dallying cost them the early bird discount for the concert tickets.”
Dilly-dallying
“Dilly-dallying” specifically refers to procrastination or time-wasting through a lack of decisiveness or by engaging in trivial activities.
It suggests an almost playful avoidance of responsibility or delay in making progress, often leading to frustration in more goal-oriented contexts.
Examples in sentences:
- “There’s no time for dilly-dallying; we need to make a decision now.”
- “She accused him of dilly-dallying when he couldn’t choose a restaurant.”
- “The team was accused of dilly-dallying on the project, risking its timely completion.”
- “He spent the whole morning dilly-dallying instead of packing for the trip.”
- “Dilly-dallying on the way home meant she missed her favorite show.”
Dragging one’s feet
“Dragging one’s feet” is a vivid metaphor for reluctance or slowness in taking action or making progress.
It suggests a deliberate pace, often out of hesitation or unwillingness to proceed.
This expression is commonly used to describe someone who is slow to embrace change or to fulfill obligations.
Examples in sentences:
- “The committee is dragging its feet on making the necessary reforms.”
- “He’s been dragging his feet on the project, much to the team’s frustration.”
- “Despite the urgency, she dragged her feet every step of the way.”
- “Dragging one’s feet in such situations can lead to missed opportunities.”
- “The government was accused of dragging its feet in responding to the crisis.”
Laggard
“Laggard” is often used to describe a person or entity that falls behind due to slow movement or decision-making.
It can apply to various contexts, from individuals in a group setting to companies in the marketplace.
The term carries a connotation of criticism for the lack of speed and is rooted in the Middle English word “laggen,” meaning to lag.
Examples in sentences:
- “In every group project, there seems to be one laggard who holds everyone back.”
- “The company has been a laggard in adopting new technologies.”
- “She’s no laggard when it comes to making decisions about her career.”
- “The laggard pace of regulatory changes frustrates innovators.”
- “He’s trying hard not to be the laggard of the race.”
Lagging
“Lagging” is used to describe someone or something that is not keeping pace with the rest or is falling behind in terms of progress or development.
It can apply to a wide range of contexts, from physical movement to technological advancements, indicating a gap that needs to be closed.
Examples in sentences:
- “The software update is lagging behind the current technology trends.”
- “She noticed her friend was lagging a bit during the run and slowed down to match her pace.”
- “The project is lagging, and we need to allocate more resources to catch up.”
- “Despite lagging in the first half of the game, the team made a remarkable comeback.”
- “His academic performance began lagging when he started focusing more on his part-time job.”
Loafing
“Loafing” captures the act of idling or engaging in leisure activities instead of working or being productive.
It suggests a deliberate choice to be unproductive, often in a context where there is an expectation to be otherwise.
The term comes from the noun “loaf,” which in this context transforms into a verb meaning to lounge or idle.
Examples in sentences:
- “Instead of cleaning, he spent the afternoon loafing on the couch.”
- “She accused him of loafing around when there was work to be done.”
- “The sunny weather makes me feel like loafing in the park instead of going to class.”
- “He’s been loafing ever since he finished his exams.”
- “Loafing on the job can lead to serious consequences.”
Meandering
“Meandering” refers to the act of wandering or moving without a clear direction or purpose, often at a leisurely pace.
The term is derived from the Meander River in Turkey, known for its winding path.
It’s used to describe both physical movement and the figurative sense of taking an indirect route to a destination or goal.
Examples in sentences:
- “We meandered through the streets of the old town, taking in the sights.”
- “His thoughts meandered, never settling on a single topic for long.”
- “The conversation meandered, touching on a variety of unrelated subjects.”
- “She enjoyed meandering along the riverbank, lost in her thoughts.”
- “The project meandered for months before finally gaining direction.”
Moseying
“Moseying” implies a very casual, unhurried pace, often with an element of aimless wandering.
It’s a term that suggests taking one’s time, enjoying the surroundings without any rush.
While not exclusively British, it’s used in the UK to describe a laid-back approach to movement, particularly in a leisure context.
Examples in sentences:
- “After dinner, we moseyed around the neighborhood, enjoying the cool evening air.”
- “He moseyed into the office well after the meeting had started.”
- “Let’s mosey through the market and see what catches our eye.”
- “There’s no need to rush; we can just mosey along until we find a nice spot for lunch.”
- “She moseyed over to the window to take in the view.”
Plodder
“Plodder” describes a person who progresses with slow but steady steps, typically implying a lack of speed but not necessarily a lack of determination or purpose.
It’s often used to characterize someone who may not be the quickest but is reliable and persistent in their efforts.
Examples in sentences:
- “Despite being a plodder, he eventually finished the marathon.”
- “She’s a steady plodder who always gets her work done, even if it takes a bit longer.”
- “The project was slow going, but thanks to the plodders on the team, it was completed on time.”
- “He may not be the fastest on the team, but he’s a plodder and never gives up.”
- “Plodders may not grab the headlines, but they’re often the backbone of any successful endeavor.”
Pottering
“Pottering” involves engaging in small, often enjoyable tasks at a leisurely pace, without any particular urgency.
It’s about taking pleasure in the simple activities of daily life, often with a sense of contentedness and relaxation.
The term evokes a picture of someone happily immersed in their hobbies or chores, moving from one to the next without haste.
Examples in sentences:
- “I spent the weekend pottering around the garden, tending to the plants.”
- “He’s retired now and likes to potter about in his workshop.”
- “She pottered around the kitchen, preparing a leisurely Sunday brunch.”
- “There’s nothing he enjoys more than pottering about the house, fixing things.”
- “After years of rushing, she now appreciates the joy of pottering.”
Sauntering
“Sauntering” is all about walking with an easy, leisurely pace, often conveying a sense of confidence or nonchalance.
It’s a way of moving that’s as much about the attitude with which one walks as it is about the pace.
Sauntering suggests an individual who is in no rush, enjoying the moment and their surroundings with a certain flair.
Examples in sentences:
- “He sauntered into the room, catching everyone’s attention with his confident stride.”
- “On sunny days, she loves sauntering along the riverbank, taking in the beauty of nature.”
- “They sauntered through the city streets, soaking up the vibrant atmosphere.”
- “With a saunter, he approached the stage, ready to deliver his speech.”
- “The cat sauntered across the garden, its tail high in the air.”
Shilly-shallying
“Shilly-shallying” captures the essence of vacillation or indecision, where one hesitates to make a choice or take action, often leading to delays.
It’s a more colorful way to describe procrastination, emphasizing the back-and-forth nature of the indecision.
The term suggests a playful, though potentially frustrating, inability to commit to a course of action.
Examples in sentences:
- “Stop shilly-shallying and just pick a restaurant already!”
- “The committee’s shilly-shallying meant that no decision was made.”
- “He shilly-shallied for weeks before finally booking his vacation.”
- “Her shilly-shallying over the offer allowed someone else to snap it up.”
- “We can’t afford any shilly-shallying if we want to meet the deadline.”
Slowcoach
“Slowcoach” is a playful term used to describe someone who is not keeping up with the pace of others, often because they are moving or working at a leisurely rate.
It’s a term that combines gentle ribbing with a nudge to pick up the pace, embodying a friendly way to call attention to someone’s slowness.
Examples in sentences:
- “Come on, slowcoach! We’re going to be late for the movie.”
- “I’m always the slowcoach of the group when we go hiking.”
- “He earned the nickname ‘Slowcoach’ for his leisurely morning routine.”
- “Despite being a slowcoach, she always finishes her work meticulously.”
- “The team playfully teased their slowcoach but appreciated his thoroughness.”
Snail’s pace
“Snail’s pace” is a descriptive term used to highlight an exceptionally slow speed, often frustratingly so.
It vividly compares someone’s pace or progress to that of a snail, known for its slow movement, emphasizing the need for greater speed or efficiency.
Examples in sentences:
- “This traffic is moving at a snail’s pace; we’ll never get there at this rate.”
- “The project’s progress is at a snail’s pace, which is concerning for the deadline.”
- “He moves at a snail’s pace in the morning, taking forever to get ready.”
- “Learning the new software is going at a snail’s pace for me.”
- “The line at the café was advancing at a snail’s pace, testing everyone’s patience.”
Slogging
“Slogging” implies a grueling, effortful process of getting through work or tasks that are particularly challenging or tedious.
It’s about enduring through difficulty with a sense of slow but steady progress, often requiring significant effort and resilience.
Examples in sentences:
- “We’ve been slogging away at this project for months, and it’s finally coming together.”
- “The team slogged through the data analysis, painstakingly checking every detail.”
- “After slogging through the mud for hours, we reached the campsite exhausted.”
- “She’s been slogging over her thesis, putting in long hours every day.”
- “Slogging through the textbook, he managed to prepare for the exam in time.”
Trudging
“Trudging” conveys the effort and difficulty involved in moving forward, often under the weight of fatigue or adverse conditions.
It paints a picture of someone persevering despite challenges, their movement slow and laborious but determined.
Examples in sentences:
- “After the long hike, we were trudging back to our car, too tired to speak.”
- “He trudged through the snow, determined to reach home before dark.”
- “The morning after the storm saw residents trudging out to assess the damage.”
- “Trudging up the hill with groceries was always the hardest part of her day.”
- “Despite trudging through a difficult year, the team remained optimistic.”
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Founder -
@PollyWebster
Polly Webster is the founder of Foreign Lingo and a seasoned traveler with a decade of exploration under her belt.
Over the past 10 years, she has journeyed to numerous countries around the globe, immersing herself in diverse cultures, traditions, and languages.
Drawing from her rich experiences, Polly now writes insightful articles about travel, languages, traditions, and cultures, sharing her unique perspectives and invaluable tips with her readers.