Taking your sweet time
Meaning
To proceed at a leisurely pace, often slower than expected or desired by others, usually without urgency or concern for speeding up.
Origin
The word "sweet" has long been used to imbue various nouns with a sense of pleasantness, ease, or even an indulgent quality, as seen in phrases like "sweet dreams" or "sweet talk." When paired with "time," this adjective transforms the neutral act of simply "taking your time" into something more deliberate and notably unhurried. The phrase gained popular traction in the early to mid-20th century, particularly in American English, as an idiomatic way to describe someone moving at a pace far slower than expected or desired by others. It implies a conscious choice to stretch out a moment, savor a task, or simply refuse to be rushed, often to the mild exasperation of those waiting.
Examples
- The customer was taking her sweet time deciding which coffee to order, holding up the entire line.
- Despite the looming deadline, he was taking his sweet time proofreading the report, meticulously checking every detail.