Let me guess you’re trying to describe slow, but the word itself just feels . slow 😅
I’ve been there. Whether you’re writing a story, a blog post, or even a caption, saying “it was slow” doesn’t always do the job. It feels flat. Lifeless.
That’s why metaphors exist.
When I say something moves like a tired snail, you don’t just understand ityou feel it. You can picture it. You can almost hear the drag.
In this post, I’ll walk you through 20 powerful metaphors for slowness that writers actually use. For each one, I’ll explain what it means, why it works, and give you two clear examples so you can start using them immediately.
At the end, I’ve also added a practical exercise section to help you master these metaphors with confidence.
Let’s slow things downcreatively.
1. Moving at a Snail’s Pace
Meaning: Extremely slow
Explanation: Snails are famous for their sluggish movement, making this metaphor universally understood.
Examples:
- The internet was moving at a snail’s pace today.
- Traffic crawled at a snail’s pace during rush hour.
2. Slow as Molasses
Meaning: Painfully slow
Explanation: Molasses is thick and sticky, symbolizing heavy, delayed movement.
Examples:
- The paperwork process was slow as molasses.
- His response time was slow as molasses in winter.
3. Crawling Like a Tired Turtle
Meaning: Slow due to exhaustion
Explanation: Turtles are slow already, and tiredness exaggerates that slowness.
Examples:
- After the marathon, I walked like a tired turtle.
- The project moved forward like a tired turtle.
4. Dripping Like Honey
Meaning: Slow and steady
Explanation: Honey flows slowly but smoothly, suggesting patience.
Examples:
- Time dripped like honey during the long lecture.
- Progress came dripping like honey.
5. Frozen in Time
Meaning: Almost not moving at all
Explanation: Suggests extreme slowness bordering on stillness.
Examples:
- The queue felt frozen in time.
- The system update left everything frozen in time.
6. Dragging Its Feet
Meaning: Deliberately slow
Explanation: Implies resistance or lack of motivation.
Examples:
- He’s dragging his feet on the decision.
- The company dragged its feet on reforms.
7. Like Watching Paint Dry
Meaning: Boring and slow
Explanation: A humorous way to show tedious slowness.
Examples:
- The meeting was like watching paint dry.
- That lecture felt like watching paint dry.
8. Stuck in First Gear
Meaning: Unable to speed up
Explanation: Borrowed from driving, implying lack of progress.
Examples:
- The team is stuck in first gear.
- My brain felt stuck in first gear this morning.
9. Plodding Like an Old Horse
Meaning: Slow but persistent
Explanation: Emphasizes steady effort despite slowness.
Examples:
- He worked like an old horse, slow but reliable.
- The story plodded like an old horse.
10. Wading Through Mud
Meaning: Slow due to resistance
Explanation: Mud creates drag, symbolizing difficulty.
Examples:
- Writing felt like wading through mud.
- The process was wading through mud.
11. Creeping Like a Shadow
Meaning: Quiet and slow
Explanation: Shadows move slowly and subtly.
Examples:
- Evening crept like a shadow.
- Doubt crept like a shadow into his mind.
12. Sluggish as a Sleeping Bear
Meaning: Heavy and slow
Explanation: Bears move slowly when inactive.
Examples:
- My body felt like a sleeping bear.
- The economy moved like a sleeping bear.
13. Tick by Tick Like a Broken Clock
Meaning: Extremely slow progress
Explanation: A broken clock emphasizes delay.
Examples:
- Time passed like a broken clock.
- The repairs moved tick by tick.
14. Glued to the Ground
Meaning: Hardly moving
Explanation: Suggests immobility due to resistance.
Examples:
- My feet felt glued to the ground.
- The line stayed glued to the ground.
15. Like Ice Melting in Winter
Meaning: Almost painfully slow
Explanation: Winter slows melting dramatically.
Examples:
- His recovery was like ice melting in winter.
- Progress came like ice melting in winter.
16. Trudging Uphill
Meaning: Slow and exhausting
Explanation: Uphill movement naturally slows speed.
Examples:
- Life felt like trudging uphill.
- The project was trudging uphill.
17. Inch by Inch
Meaning: Very gradual progress
Explanation: Inches emphasize tiny movement.
Examples:
- We moved inch by inch.
- Success came inch by inch.
18. Like a Jammed Elevator
Meaning: Delayed and frustrating
Explanation: Elevators stuck between floors symbolize stalled motion.
Examples:
- My career felt like a jammed elevator.
- The update was like a jammed elevator.
19. Moving Through Thick Fog
Meaning: Slow and uncertain
Explanation: Fog limits vision and speed.
Examples:
- Decisions felt like moving through fog.
- The plan moved through thick fog.
20. Like a Battery on 1%
Meaning: Slow due to low energy
Explanation: Modern and relatable metaphor.
Examples:
- I worked like a phone on 1%.
- The team ran like a battery on 1%.
Practical Exercise: Practice Metaphors for Slow
Q1: What metaphor fits extremely slow internet?
Answer: Moving at a snail’s pace
Q2: Which metaphor shows boring slowness?
Answer: Like watching paint dry
Q3: Best metaphor for slow progress with effort?
Answer: Trudging uphill
Q4: Which metaphor shows deliberate delay?
Answer: Dragging its feet
Q5: What fits slow but steady progress?
Answer: Dripping like honey
Q6: Which metaphor suggests resistance?
Answer: Wading through mud
Q7: Best metaphor for exhaustion-based slowness?
Answer: Like a battery on 1%
Q8: Which metaphor suggests near stillness?
Answer: Frozen in time
Q9: What metaphor shows confusion and delay?
Answer: Moving through thick fog
Q10: Which metaphor suggests frustration with delay?
Answer: Like a jammed elevator
Conclusion
Slowness isn’t boring bad descriptions are.
When you use metaphors, you transform a simple idea into an experience the reader can feel, picture, and remember. Whether you’re writing stories, blogs, essays, or even social posts, these metaphors for slow help your writing move even when the subject doesn’t.
So next time you feel tempted to write “it was slow”, pause…
Pick a metaphor. Your reader will thank you.
