slowcoach

1 8.4

A person who takes a long time to do things and makes others wait

noun
/ˈsloʊˌkoʊtʃ/

Offensive

: retrasado

Hurry up, you slowcoach; we'll miss the bus if you take any longer.

Examples

My friend is such a slowcoach when it comes to finishing his assignments, making us late.
I can't believe he's still not here; that slowcoach always takes his time to get ready.
In her mind, I was being a slowcoach, uncaring, etc. etc.

Blog text (31)
Come on, slowcoach!

About a Boy (2002)
Come on, slowcoach.

Circle of Friends (1995)
I've asked my husband to introduce us before, but he's such a slowcoach.

This Sporting Life (1963)
"Grant isn't such a slowcoach as McClellan was, either," Hill persisted.

Fiction book (1992)

Synonyms

drone

vsslowcoach

Offensive

43 7.6

A person who works slowly and avoids effort

more often highlights the resulting delay or impact on other people

slowpoke

vsslowcoach

Offensive

5 6.8

A person who does things more slowly than other people

often causes delay for others by acting or thinking slowly

lagger

vsslowcoach

1 8.1

A person who falls behind others because they are slower

is the type of slow behavior that specifically delays other people

plodder

vsslowcoach

1 6.5

A person who works slowly and steadily without much energy or imagination

is more about slowness that actively makes others wait

poke

vsslowcoach

Informal

1 8.6

A person who moves slowly and falls behind others

more likely to slow others intentionally or by impact

dawdler

vsslowcoach

1 7.1

A person who moves slowly and wastes time

specifically causes delay for others rather than merely lingering

dallier

vsslowcoach

1 9.5

A person who wastes time and does not make decisions or take action

is used when the slow action noticeably holds others up

staller

vsslowcoach

1 7.9

A person who delays making decisions on purpose

is slower by nature and often creates delays for other people

delayer

vsslowcoach

1 7.4

A person who often waits until the last minute to do things

is more about slow movement or thought that delays others

dillydallier

vsslowcoach

Informal

8.6

A person who wastes time by being slow to act or decide

is similar but emphasizes the effect of delaying other people

dilly-dallier

vsslowcoach

Informal

9.7

A person who delays decisions and wastes time

focuses more on causing others to wait rather than personal indecision

cunctator

vsslowcoach

Archaic

9.9

A person who often delays doing things or making decisions

is slower in ways that actively delay others rather than only postpone

temporizer

vsslowcoach

Formal

9.9

A person who delays action to wait for a better moment

is slower in general and may unintentionally hold others up

incher

vsslowcoach

Informal

9.9

A person who moves forward very slowly, one small step at a time

refers to slow action that noticeably holds others back

retarder

vsslowcoach

Specialized

7.6

Something that slows a movement or a process

is a person who moves or thinks slowly and delays others

decelerator

vsslowcoach

7.0

A person or thing that makes a process slow down

is specifically a person whose slowness causes others to be delayed

Antonyms

speedster

16 4.1

A person, animal, or vehicle that moves very fast

How Slow

dawdler

1 7.1

slowcoach

Offensive

1 8.4

laggard

1 7.9

Surface Forms

slowcoach singular

slowcoaches plural

Morphology

slowcoach = slow + coach (transparent) = slow + coach

Formed by the obvious combination 'slow' + 'coach' meaning someone like a slow vehicle; the sense 'a slow person' is straightforward for learners.

Etymology

Slowcoach comes from the words slow ('not fast') and coach ('vehicle' or 'bus'). Think of someone compared to a slow bus or carriage that makes others wait, so a slowcoach is a person who moves or acts slowly and delays other people.