INCHING ALONG Meaning and
Definition
-
Inching along refers to making slow, incremental progress or moving forward at an extremely slow pace. The phrase "inching along" typically implies an arduous or laborious process that involves moving forward gradually, almost imperceptibly. It is often used metaphorically to describe situations where progress is painstakingly slow or hindered by various obstacles, challenges, or inefficiencies.
The term "inching" alludes to the act of inching or moving forward by small measurements, akin to the distance covered by an inch. This conveys the notion of progressing very slowly, with each step or advancement being minuscule. The term "along" reinforces the idea of forward movement, but at a leisurely and almost unnoticeable pace.
"Inching along" is frequently employed to describe circumstances where there is a lack of momentum, notable delays, or stagnant progress. It can be used to depict situations such as traffic congestion, bureaucratic red tape, slow decision-making processes, laborious paperwork, or any situation where advancement is tediously slow.
Overall, the phrase "inching along" describes a slow and gradual progression, often hindered by obstacles or inefficiencies. It emphasizes the notion of making exceedingly slow progress, moving forward almost unnoticeably, and often implies frustration or impatience due to the lack of significant advancement.
Common Misspellings for INCHING ALONG
- unching along
- jnching along
- knching along
- onching along
- 9nching along
- 8nching along
- ibching along
- imching along
- ijching along
- ihching along
- inxhing along
- invhing along
- infhing along
- indhing along
- incging along
- incbing along
- incning along
- incjing along
- incuing along
- incying along
Etymology of INCHING ALONG
The phrase "inching along" is derived from the verb "inch" and the word "along".
The verb "inch" can be traced back to the Old English word "yncean" or "yncan", which means "to advance slowly or by small degrees". It is related to the Old High German word "ingon", meaning "to move". Over time, "yncean" evolved into the Middle English word "inchen", which maintained the same meaning of slow and gradual movement.
The word "along" came from the Old English word "gelang", which referred to "in company or together with". It stemmed from the prefix "ge-" meaning "together" and "lang" meaning "long". Through various linguistic changes, the word transformed into "along", indicating movement or progress in a linear direction.
