slowcoach: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low to MediumInformal
Quick answer
What does “slowcoach” mean?
A person who acts, moves, or works slowly.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who acts, moves, or works slowly; a slow or sluggish individual.
A person who is reluctant to embrace change, new ideas, or progress; someone who hinders progress due to their deliberate slowness or cautiousness.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
'Slowcoach' is almost exclusively British (and Commonwealth) English. The common American equivalent is 'slowpoke'.
Connotations
In BrE, it can sound slightly old-fashioned or quaint. It often carries a gentle, slightly humorous rebuke.
Frequency
Infrequent in modern BrE, but understood. Extremely rare in AmE, where 'slowpoke' is standard.
Grammar
How to Use “slowcoach” in a Sentence
Noun phrase: You are a slowcoach!Vocative: Hurry up, slowcoach!Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “slowcoach” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A - Not used as a verb.
American English
- N/A - Not used as a verb.
adverb
British English
- N/A - Not used as an adverb.
American English
- N/A - Not used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- N/A - Not used as a standard adjective.
American English
- N/A - Not used as a standard adjective.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used informally to describe a colleague or department that delays projects (e.g., 'The legal team are being real slowcoaches on approving this contract.').
Academic
Rare. Might be used informally among students or in non-technical critique of slow academic processes.
Everyday
Most common context. Used among friends, family, or with children (e.g., 'Come on, slowcoach, we'll miss the bus!').
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “slowcoach”
- Spelling it as two words: 'slow coach'. While historically it may have been, the modern standard is one word.
- Using it in formal writing.
- Using it in American English where it sounds unnatural; 'slowpoke' should be used instead.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a mild, often affectionate criticism, more teasing than seriously insulting. Its tone is informal and can be humorous.
Almost exclusively for people. While you might metaphorically call a slow computer a 'slowcoach', it is non-standard and humorous personification.
It dates from the mid-19th century, combining 'slow' with 'coach' (the horse-drawn vehicle), implying someone who moves at the speed of an old-fashioned coach.
Modern standard dictionaries list it as one word: 'slowcoach'. The hyphenated form 'slow-coach' is also sometimes seen, but 'slow coach' as two separate words is less common for this meaning.
A person who acts, moves, or works slowly.
Slowcoach is usually informal in register.
Slowcoach: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsləʊkəʊtʃ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsloʊkoʊtʃ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “At a slowcoach's pace”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Picture a slow-moving, old-fashioned stagecoach (coach) trundling along a road, holding up modern traffic behind it.
Conceptual Metaphor
A PERSON IS A VEHICLE (specifically, a slow, outdated, or inefficient one).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the most appropriate synonym for 'slowcoach' in American English?