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Definition:
c) slow, inactive
German translation:
sluggish = träge, schleppend
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GOOGLE INDEX
sluggish: approximately 5,500,000 Google hits
Sample text:
Stocks End Higher in SLUGGISH Trading
(BusinessWeek magazine - News Headline)
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World number one Roger Federer overcame a SLUGGISH start before advancing to the Australian Open semi-finals.
(Washington Post)
Did you know?
sluggish
adjective
- moving or operating more slowly than usual and with less energy or power
(Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary)
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Sluggish stems from the noun "slug," a common name for any gastropod mollusc that lacks a shell, has a very reduced shell or has a small internal shell. This is in contrast to the snail, the common name for gastropods that have coiled shells that are big enough to retract into.
As slugs are inclined not to hurry (Why did the slug cross the road? I don't know yet, but I'll let you know when he gets there...), the adjective sluggish nicely illustrates the concept of slow, lethargic or "snail-like." As a matter fact, the slug creeps along at a comfortable average speed of .03 miles-per-hour, making it the slowest creature on earth.
The prize for the slowest "mammal" goes to the three toed sloth, the origin of the noun "sloth" (unwillingness to work or make an effort) and the adjective "slothful," which can refer to any number of disagreeable descriptions like slow, lazy, unmotivated, uncaring or apathetic.
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SYNONYMS
inert, languid, listless, phlegmatic
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SMUGGLE OWAD into today's conversation
"The meeting got off to a sluggish start, but by the end we had solved all the major issues."
And now...
Today's Learning Tip (7):
Recall some Synonyms
When you learn the new word, recall other English words with similar meanings - having alternative ways of saying something gives you more precision and flexibility in speaking.
more learning tips
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