- Means instantly or extremely quickly.
Explanation
Origin
- Comes from the Bible, specifically 1 Corinthians 15:52 in the King James Version: In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
- It refers to the time it takes for an eye to twinkle or blink, emphasizing instantaneous action or change.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- In a flash
- Super fast
- Like *that*! (Often accompanied by a finger snap)
- Quick as lightning
- Before you could blink
Vulgar/Emphatic:
- Quick as fuck (Crude)
- Gone like shit through a goose (Very crude, emphasizes speed of departure)
Milder/Common:
- Instantly
- Immediately
- In the blink of an eye (Very common modern equivalent)
- All at once
- Suddenly
Situational Appropriateness
- Can sound slightly formal, literary, or even archaic compared to in the blink of an eye.
- Understood in informal contexts but less commonly used in casual conversation than its synonym.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- While visually descriptive, learners should understand it simply means 'extremely fast' or 'instantly'.
Examples
- The magician made the rabbit disappear in the twinkling of an eye.
- One moment the street was empty, the next, in the twinkling of an eye, it was filled with protestors.
- His mood changed in the twinkling of an eye.
Dialogue
Child: Did you see the shooting star?
Parent: No, I must have blinked!
Child: It was amazing! It shot across the whole sky and was gone in the twinkling of an eye!
Social Media Examples
- Tweet: Saw a rare bird in the garden, but it flew off in the twinkling of an eye before I could get a photo! #nature #birdwatching
- Blog Post: ...and then, in the twinkling of an eye, the entire landscape of the industry was changed by the new technology.
Response Patterns
- Expressing amazement: Wow!, Really?, That fast?
- Asking for clarification: What happened exactly?
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After hearing in the twinkling of an eye:
- The listener might express disbelief or ask for more details about the rapid event.
- The speaker might elaborate on the suddenness of the occurrence.
Conversation Starter
- No. Used to describe the speed at which something specific happened.
Intonation
- Often said with a sense of wonder, surprise, or slight drama due to its literary/archaic feel.
- Stress often falls on TWINKLING. in the TWINKLING of an eye.
Generation Differences
- Understood by most, but perhaps used more frequently or comfortably by older generations or those familiar with the biblical phrase or older literature. Younger speakers are more likely to use in the blink of an eye.
Regional Variations
- Widely understood across English-speaking regions, perhaps with slightly more currency in British English due to its literary/historical roots.