das Schneckentempo
snail's pace
A very slow speed or very slow progress.
EXAMPLE
Das Schneckentempo des Zuges frustrierte alle Fahrgäste.
The train's snail's pace frustrated all the passengers.
das Schneckentempo
snail's pace
das Schneckentempo
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Meanings
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Schneckentempo, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | neuter das |
|---|---|
| genitive | des Schneckentempos |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | das Schneckentempo | – |
| accusative | das Schneckentempo | – |
| dative | dem Schneckentempo | – |
| genitive | des Schneckentempos | – |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Word formation
'Schneckentempo' (snail's pace) is made up of 'Schnecke' (snail) and 'Tempo' (pace). The image compares very slow movement with the slow way a snail moves.
EXAMPLE
Wegen der Baustelle bewegte sich der Verkehr nur im Schneckentempo.
Because of the construction work, the traffic was moving at only a snail's pace.
Typical preposition
'Schneckentempo' (snail's pace) is especially often used with the preposition 'in': Someone moves or works at a certain pace.
EXAMPLE
Die alte Software lädt die Dateien nur im Schneckentempo.
The old software loads the files only at a snail's pace.
Figurative use
The word is often used figuratively for processes that make hardly any progress over a longer period of time. Typical expressions include 'im Schneckentempo vorankommen' (to make progress at a snail's pace) and 'im Schneckentempo arbeiten' (to work at a snail's pace).
EXAMPLE
Die Verhandlungen kommen seit Wochen im Schneckentempo voran.
The negotiations have been making progress at a snail's pace for weeks.
In real life
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