From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishslow on the uptakeslow on the uptakenot quick to understand something new Sometimes Tim’s a little slow on the uptake. → slow
Examples from the Corpus
slow on the uptake• And so, finally, to Anthony O'Hear, intellectual and all-round clever fellow, albeit a bit slow on the uptake.• In fact I've had to conclude that I am generally rather slow on the uptake.• Sarah wasn't slow on the uptake this time.• Could anyone really be that slow on the uptake? wondered Pascoe.• A bit slow on the uptake, you might think, Haringey's finance department. 