slowly but surely

slowly but surely (not comparable)

1. In a slow, yet careful manner.
   • 2011 January 25, Phil McNulty, “Blackpool 2 - 3 Man Utd”, in BBC‎^[1]:

     From then on the visitors, inspired by the composure provided by Ryan Giggs after he came on for Darron Gibson at half-time, managed to unscramble their senses to slowly but surely overpower gallant Blackpool.

• a long time coming