painfully slow

This page is about the collocation painfully slow

collocation pattern: adverb + adjective

Meaning

extremely slow, or so slow that people become impatient

For example

  • Progress in the talks has been painfully slow.

  • I know his recovery has been painfully slow, but it was a very serious accident.

Quick Quiz

If a train journey is painfully slow, passengers might

a. begin to feel impatient

b. move around slowly

c. be in serious pain
a) begin to feel impatient b) move around slowly c) be in serious pain

Contributor: Matt Errey