take one's sweet little time
To take a very long time; to be too slow or leisurely in getting something done.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“He takes his sweet little time getting ready for school.”
“The repairman took his sweet little time fixing the sink, even though I told him I was in a hurry.”
“Despite the urgent deadline looming over the project, the consultant took his sweet little time reviewing the documents, much to the frustration of the entire team.”
- 01
a little bird told me
I received the information from a source which I am not prepared to disclose.
- 02
a little bit of bread and no cheese
Used to represent the song of the yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella).
- 03
a little from column A, a little from column B
A combination of two factors or reasons.
- 04
a little of something goes a long way
Only a small amount of something is usually required to produce a great effect.
- 05
a week is a long time in politics
In politics, much change can occur in a short space of time.
- 06
abound in one's own sense
To follow one’s own inclinations and opinions.
- 07
about time
Far past the desired time.
- 08
ace up one's sleeve
A surprise advantage of which others are not aware.
Last updated August 10, 2026