perform the coda adagissimo

verb phrase

1. In music, to play or sing the concluding section of a piece (the coda) at an extremely slow tempo. Adagissimo is a rare Italian tempo marking meaning 'very, very slowly', slower than adagio. The phrase is not a fixed English idiom—it is simply an English verb plus musical terms, so it appears mainly in instructions, rehearsal notes or music writing.

   C1

   transitive phrase; used in musical directionsmusic

   • "The conductor asked the orchestra to perform the coda adagissimo so the ending felt heavy and final."B2
   • "In the score, the players are told to perform the coda adagissimo, almost at a standstill."C1
   • "Critics praised how the quartet chose to perform the coda adagissimo, stretching the final bars into a hushed, almost unbearable fade."C2

2. (figurative, slightly humorous) to bring something—a speech, an event, a career—to a very slow, drawn-out close

   C2

   transitive phrasefigurative, humorous

   • "The chairman performed the coda adagissimo, thanking every member of staff by name."C1
   • "What should have been a quick goodbye was performed adagissimo, with tears and long silences."C2