0298 In the blink of an eye

Explanation

An idiom meaning extremely quickly, almost instantaneously.

Origin

This phrase references the physical action of blinking, which is one of the fastest movements the human body performs reflexively.
By comparing the duration of an event to the time it takes to blink, the idiom emphasizes its near-instantaneous speed and brevity.
Variations appear in texts dating back centuries, including the Bible (1 Corinthians 15:52: In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye...), highlighting its long history as a metaphor for speed.

Alternatives

Slang/Informal:

Like *that* (Often accompanied by a finger snap)
Super fast
PDQ (Pretty Damn Quick slightly dated acronym)

Vulgar/Emphatic:

Fucking quick
Faster than shit off a shovel (Crude, emphasizes speed)

Milder:

Very quickly
Rapidly
Almost instantly
Swiftly

Situational Appropriateness

Appropriate in most contexts, from informal to semi-formal.
It's a common and well-understood idiom. Might be slightly too poetic for very dry, technical reports, but fine in general business or narrative contexts.

Misunderstanding Warnings

The meaning is generally clear from context. Learners just need to grasp the figurative sense of extreme speed, not a literal measurement related to blinking.

Examples

The car crash happened in the blink of an eye.
Summer vacation went by in the blink of an eye.
He changed his mind in the blink of an eye.
The magician made the coin disappear in the blink of an eye.

Dialogue

Zara: I can't believe Layla is already starting school!

Mike: I know! It seems like just yesterday she was a baby. The years went by in the blink of an eye.

Zara: They really did. Time flies when you're raising kids.

Response Patterns

Wow, that fast?
Really?
Time flies! (Especially for periods passing quickly)
It's crazy how fast things can change.

Common Follow-up Questions/Actions

After hearing something happened in the blink of an eye:

People might express surprise: I can't believe it was over so quickly.
Ask for more details about the rapid event: What exactly happened?, How did it happen so fast?.
Reflect on the speed: Life moves fast, doesn't it?.

After receiving a response:

The speaker might elaborate on the event or the feeling associated with its speed.

Conversation Starter

No.
Describes the speed of an event within a conversation.

Intonation

Emphasis often on BLINK of an EYE.
Can be said with surprise, wonder, or sometimes regret (if something good passed quickly).

Generation Differences

Understood and used by all generations.

Regional Variations

Widely used in all English-speaking regions.

World's worst

🎲 Raining cats and dogs

[0298] In the blink of an eye