slow on the uptake
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Meaning · English
slow to understand or react to something
Literally: slow to take up
Where it’s used:
Used
Widespread English
Examples
He's slow on the uptake, so explain it again
AI-drafted example auto-approved by rule (illustrative, not a corpus attestation)
Sources & notes
Listed in Wiktionary’s “English idioms” category (retrieved 2026-07-29); definition pending editorial review. Definition drafted by AI (@cf/meta/llama-3.3-70b-instruct-fp8-fast) and auto-approved by rule on 2026-07-31; pending editor spot-check.
Equivalents & related
Near equivalent
cù lần
(adjective) slow on the uptake, dumb
Tiếng Việt
Near equivalent
trì độn
(adjective) dim-witted, slow on the uptake
Tiếng Việt
Near equivalent
on the uptake
quick to understand or respond
English · via cù lần
Lighter cards are two steps away in the meaning graph — equivalents of equivalents, reached via the entry shown on the card.
Common questions
What does “slow on the uptake” mean?
slow to understand or react to something Literally: slow to take up
Is “slow on the uptake” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.
What is the closest equivalent?
“cù lần” (Tiếng Việt) — near equivalent.