a long time coming

alternative a long time in coming

1. not comparableset phraseIn-process, delayed, awaited, or deserved for a considerable duration of time; overdue.

   The breakthrough in the Paris talks was a long time coming.

   1968 November 15, “World: The Moment of Truth”, in Time, retrieved 21 Apr 2015

   4 more examples

   "The water is a long time coming. Try another glass of wine."

   1870, Wilkie Collins, chapter 10, in Man and Wife

   "Your letter was a long time coming. I had waited a week—ten days."

   1912, Edith Wharton, chapter 11, in The Reef, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton and Company

   It has been a long time coming—39 years to be exact—but women's tennis players will receive prize money equal to the men's at Wimbledon this year.

   2007 February 22, Christopher Clarey, “Tennis: Next time, she will get equal pay”, in New York Times, retrieved 21 Apr 2015

   "It's been such a long time coming but finally justice has been done, and an innocent man can be allowed to get on with the rest of his life."

   2009 September 9, Chris Johnson, “Liverpool fan Michael Shields free with royal pardon”, in Click Liverpool, UK, retrieved 21 Apr 2015