wade through treacle

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "wade through treacle" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is a figurative expression that means to progress or move forward with great difficulty or effort due to obstruction or resistance. Example: After a long night of partying, my head felt heavy and my body felt as though I was wading through treacle as I tried to make my way to work.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The US economy continues to wade through treacle and, as a result, there seems to be growing talk that Obama is destined to be a one-term president.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Michael Carrick has reverted to meek, cowardly, timid, ten-men-in-divers'-boots-wading-through-treacle type.

Vice

Other times it's like wading through treacle.

The Guardian - Books

"It had been wading through treacle over the past months.

The Guardian

I worry that I can never leave Twitter as normal life feels like wading through treacle.

The Guardian - Tech

Or the torturingly slow rate at which you're required to walk, as if wading through treacle?

The Guardian

But I've no doubt we'll get to the Championship and succeed there – it's just that, just lately, we've found ourselves wading through treacle".

The Guardian - Sport

Moreover, reading these sorts of papers, even with the relevant sort of training to be able to understand the prose, can be like wading through treacle.

The Guardian

It can even breeze along on humble computers that make XP feel as though it is wading through treacle.From the figures, Linux would appear to be vastly more secure than Windows.

The Economist

With the hunt for the killer taking place over just a few days, the reader starts to feel - like the sleepless, panicked, increasingly exhausted Scarpetta - as if they are wading through treacle.

The Guardian - Books

While there's an urgent emotional imperative at stake, and a vivid though occasionally tourist-driven portrait of Berlin, there are times when the reader seems to be wading through treacle.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Employ this idiom when the difficulty arises not just from the complexity of the task, but also from some hindering factor that slows down the progress.

Common error

Avoid using "wade through treacle" simply to describe a complex or lengthy task. The phrase implies a frustrating slowness and unnecessary difficulty, not just inherent complexity.

Linguistic Context

The idiom "wade through treacle" functions as a figurative expression, typically serving as a verb phrase to describe the experience of moving slowly and with great difficulty through a task or situation. As shown by Ludwig, it suggests unnecessary resistance and frustration.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The idiom "wade through treacle" effectively conveys the frustrating experience of slow, difficult progress, as if moving through something thick and resistant. While grammatically correct and recognized, its use should be deliberate to add color and emphasis rather than simply describing a complex task. Ludwig's AI confirms its validity. When it comes to finding alternative phrases, consider "struggle through mud" or "make heavy going of it" to express similar concepts. Use this idiom to show unnecessary resistance!

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make heavy going of it

An idiomatic expression conveying difficulty.

trudge through molasses

Substitutes treacle with another thick, viscous substance.

struggle through mud

Uses a different physical metaphor to represent difficulty.

have a tough time making headway

Focuses on the difficulty of progressing.

inch forward with great effort

Emphasizes the slow pace and the exertion involved.

laboriously advance

Focuses on the effort required to make progress.

find it an arduous task

Stresses the demanding nature of the undertaking.

face an uphill battle

Metaphorically describes a challenging situation.

move at a snail's pace

Illustrates the slowness of the progress.

encounter significant obstacles

Highlights the presence of impediments.

FAQs

What does the idiom "wade through treacle" mean?

The idiom "wade through treacle" means to proceed with extreme difficulty, as if moving through a thick, sticky substance that impedes progress.

How can I use "wade through treacle" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe any situation where progress is slow and arduous. For example, "Negotiating the contract felt like wading through treacle".

Are there any alternatives to "wade through treacle"?

Yes, you can use alternatives like "struggle through mud", "make heavy going of it", or "face an uphill battle" depending on the context.

Is "wade through treacle" a formal or informal expression?

It's generally considered an informal expression, suitable for everyday conversation and less formal writing. It can be used in more formal contexts if the tone is appropriate, but alternatives might be preferable in highly formal settings.