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(as) slow as molasses
01
very low in speed
Dialect
American
American
Idiom
Informal
What is the origin of the idiom "slow as molasses" and when to use it?
The idiom "slow as molasses" originates from the fact that molasses, a thick and viscous syrup obtained from the processing of sugarcane or sugar beets, has a very slow and deliberate flow. The comparison to molasses emphasizes something that moves at an extremely sluggish or slow pace. This expression is used to describe a situation, action, or person that moves at an exceptionally slow or glacial pace. It underscores a significant lack of speed or efficiency.
Examples
The traffic on the highway was moving as slow as molasses due to the accident.
