noun
at a snail's pace; inch by inch
Idiomatic expression describing very slow, gradual progress. Often used adverbially as 一寸刻みに.
渋滞で車が一寸刻みにしか進まない。
Because of the traffic jam, the cars are moving only inch by inch.
交渉は一寸刻みの進展だった。
The negotiations progressed at a snail's pace.
一寸 (one sun, about 3 cm) + 刻み (cutting, notching), literally 'cutting into one-sun lengths', figuratively meaning very slow, step-by-step progress.