Idioms are lively, figurative expressions that infuse conversations with energy and vividness, making discussions about speed, haste, or rapid action more engaging and dynamic. When describing situations, actions, or people characterized by swiftness or urgency, idioms provide a colorful way to capture the essence of quickness. In this comprehensive listicle, we’ll explore 50 idioms related to being quick, unravel their meanings, and demonstrate how they can add a burst of flair to your conversations about speed and efficiency. So, let’s dive into this collection of idiomatic gems and discover how they can accelerate your descriptions of quickness.
What is an Idiom for Quick?
Idioms for quick are figurative phrases that use imaginative language to describe actions, responses, or situations that happen rapidly, efficiently, or with great speed. These expressions often draw from metaphors, cultural references, or vivid imagery to convey the concept of swiftness in a memorable and relatable way. Whether you’re praising someone’s rapid thinking, a fast-paced event, or a speedy task completion, these idioms can make your language more expressive and captivating. Below, we’ll explore each idiom, clarify its meaning, and provide a long sentence to illustrate its use in the context of quickness.
Idioms for Quick
1. Quick as a Flash
Meaning: Extremely fast or instantaneous, like a sudden burst of light.
In a Sentence: When the fire alarm sounded, she was quick as a flash, grabbing her bag and sprinting out of the building in mere seconds.
2. In the Blink of an Eye
Meaning: Something that happens so quickly it’s almost imperceptible.
In a Sentence: The race was over in the blink of an eye, with the champion crossing the finish line before the crowd could even process the start.
3. Like Greased Lightning
Meaning: Incredibly fast, as if moving with unstoppable speed.
In a Sentence: He dashed through the obstacle course like greased lightning, weaving past barriers with a speed that left spectators in awe.
4. Swift as an Arrow
Meaning: Moving very quickly and directly, like an arrow shot from a bow.
In a Sentence: Her response to the crisis was swift as an arrow, addressing the issue with decisive action that resolved it almost immediately.
5. In a Jiffy
Meaning: Happening very quickly or in a short amount of time.
In a Sentence: She whipped up a delicious meal in a jiffy, transforming simple ingredients into a feast faster than anyone thought possible.
6. Quick on the Draw
Meaning: Someone who reacts or responds very rapidly, often with wit or action.
In a Sentence: During the debate, he was quick on the draw, firing back with clever retorts before his opponent could finish their argument.
7. At the Drop of a Hat
Meaning: Acting immediately or without hesitation.
In a Sentence: She was ready to help at the drop of a hat, rushing to her friend’s side the moment she heard about the emergency.
8. In a Heartbeat
Meaning: Happening instantly or without any delay.
In a Sentence: He accepted the job offer in a heartbeat, seizing the opportunity with a speed that showed his eagerness for the role.
9. Faster Than a Speeding Bullet
Meaning: Extremely fast, often used to describe superhuman speed.
In a Sentence: The new delivery service was faster than a speeding bullet, getting packages to customers’ doors in record-breaking time.
10. Quick as a Wink
Meaning: Happening in an instant, as fast as a blink or wink.
In a Sentence: She solved the puzzle quick as a wink, her sharp mind piecing together the clues before anyone else could even start.
11. In Two Shakes of a Lamb’s Tail
Meaning: Very quickly or in a short amount of time.
In a Sentence: He fixed the broken computer in two shakes of a lamb’s tail, restoring the system to full function before the meeting began.
12. On the Double
Meaning: To act or move very quickly, often as a command.
In a Sentence: The coach shouted for the team to get on the double, urging them to hustle to the field for practice without a moment’s delay.
13. Like a Bat Out of Hell
Meaning: Moving with reckless or extreme speed.
In a Sentence: When the storm hit, they drove like a bat out of hell, racing to safety before the roads became too dangerous to navigate.
14. In a Flash
Meaning: Happening suddenly and very quickly.
In a Sentence: The news spread in a flash, with everyone in the office buzzing about the announcement within minutes of its release.
15. Quick Off the Mark
Meaning: Being fast to start or respond to something.
In a Sentence: She was quick off the mark in the competition, taking an early lead that showcased her speed and determination.
16. At Lightning Speed
Meaning: Extremely fast, as if moving as quickly as lightning.
In a Sentence: The new software processed data at lightning speed, delivering results in milliseconds that used to take hours to compute.
17. In No Time Flat
Meaning: Very quickly or almost instantly.
In a Sentence: He cleaned the entire house in no time flat, transforming the chaotic space into a spotless haven before the guests arrived.
18. Like the Wind
Meaning: Moving very quickly, as if carried by the wind.
In a Sentence: She ran like the wind during the marathon, breezing past competitors with a speed that seemed almost effortless.
19. Before You Can Say Jack Robinson
Meaning: Happening so quickly it’s almost instantaneous.
In a Sentence: The deal was finalized before you could say Jack Robinson, with both parties signing the contract in a matter of moments.
20. As Quick as Lightning
Meaning: Extremely fast, similar to the speed of a lightning strike.
In a Sentence: His fingers flew across the keyboard as quick as lightning, coding the entire program in a fraction of the expected time.
21. In a New York Minute
Meaning: Very quickly, referencing the fast-paced nature of New York City.
In a Sentence: She made the decision in a New York minute, confidently choosing the best option without a second’s hesitation.
22. Fast as a Hare
Meaning: Very quick, likening speed to that of a swift animal.
In a Sentence: He darted through the crowded market fast as a hare, navigating the chaos to grab the last item on his shopping list.
23. Snap to It
Meaning: To act quickly or hurry up, often used as an urging.
In a Sentence: The manager told the team to snap to it, prompting them to rush through their tasks to meet the tight project deadline.
24. In the Nick of Time
Meaning: Happening just in time, but very quickly to avoid delay.
In a Sentence: She submitted her application in the nick of time, uploading the documents just seconds before the online portal closed.
25. Quick as a Bunny
Meaning: Very fast, like the rapid movements of a rabbit.
In a Sentence: The toddler scampered across the room quick as a bunny, grabbing the toy before anyone could stop her playful dash.
26. Lickety-Split
Meaning: Very quickly or at a rapid pace.
In a Sentence: They finished the group project lickety-split, collaborating so efficiently that they turned it in well ahead of schedule.
27. With Lightning Speed
Meaning: Extremely fast, emphasizing rapid movement or action.
In a Sentence: The emergency response team arrived with lightning speed, providing aid to the victims within minutes of the distress call.
28. Fast on Your Feet
Meaning: Quick to react or think, often in challenging situations.
In a Sentence: During the live interview, she was fast on her feet, answering tough questions with sharp, immediate responses that impressed the audience.
29. In a Hurry
Meaning: Acting or moving with haste or urgency.
In a Sentence: He packed his suitcase in a hurry, throwing clothes together at breakneck speed to catch the last flight of the day.
30. Quick as a Fox
Meaning: Very fast and clever, like the swift and cunning animal.
In a Sentence: She negotiated the deal quick as a fox, securing favorable terms in a matter of minutes with her sharp instincts.
31. Posthaste
Meaning: With great speed or urgency, often used formally.
In a Sentence: The courier delivered the urgent documents posthaste, ensuring they reached the recipient before the critical deadline passed.
32. In a Split Second
Meaning: Happening extremely quickly, in a fraction of a moment.
In a Sentence: He made the game-winning shot in a split second, reacting instinctively to the buzzer and clinching victory for his team.
33. Like a Shot
Meaning: Very quickly or suddenly, as if fired from a gun.
In a Sentence: When the bell rang, the students bolted out of the classroom like a shot, eager to start their weekend adventures.
34. Quick on the Uptake
Meaning: Someone who understands or learns something very quickly.
In a Sentence: She was quick on the uptake, grasping the complex software tutorial in moments while others struggled to keep up.
35. At Breakneck Speed
Meaning: Extremely fast, often dangerously or recklessly so.
In a Sentence: The startup grew at breakneck speed, expanding its operations across the globe in just a few months with relentless momentum.
36. In Double-Quick Time
Meaning: Very quickly, often faster than usual.
In a Sentence: The chef prepared the gourmet dish in double-quick time, impressing the diners with both speed and exquisite flavor.
37. Quick as a Whip
Meaning: Extremely fast in thought or action, often implying intelligence.
In a Sentence: Her mind was quick as a whip, solving the riddle in seconds while her friends were still puzzling over the first clue.
38. In a Dash
Meaning: Moving or acting with great haste or speed.
In a Sentence: She completed the report in a dash, typing furiously to meet the deadline just as the clock struck the final hour.
39. Fast Out of the Gate
Meaning: Starting something very quickly or with immediate energy.
In a Sentence: The new employee was fast out of the gate, tackling her first project with enthusiasm and completing it ahead of schedule.
40. Like Nobody’s Business
Meaning: Extremely quickly or intensely, often with great efficiency.
In a Sentence: He painted the room like nobody’s business, covering every wall with flawless precision in half the expected time.
41. In a Snap
Meaning: Very quickly or instantly, as if snapping one’s fingers.
In a Sentence: She resolved the technical glitch in a snap, restoring the website’s functionality before customers even noticed the issue.
42. Quick as a Cat
Meaning: Very fast and agile, like the movements of a cat.
In a Sentence: He dodged the falling debris quick as a cat, leaping out of harm’s way with reflexes that amazed everyone around him.
43. At Full Tilt
Meaning: Moving or acting at maximum speed or effort.
In a Sentence: The factory was running at full tilt, producing goods with such rapid efficiency that it exceeded all previous records.
44. In the Twinkling of an Eye
Meaning: Happening extremely quickly, almost instantly.
In a Sentence: The magician made the rabbit disappear in the twinkling of an eye, leaving the audience gasping at his lightning-fast trick.
45. Swift as a Deer
Meaning: Very fast and graceful, like the movements of a deer.
In a Sentence: She crossed the field swift as a deer, her graceful strides outpacing everyone in the relay race with ease.
46. In a Whiz
Meaning: Very quickly or in a short amount of time.
In a Sentence: He assembled the furniture in a whiz, following the instructions so rapidly that the room was ready in no time.
47. Fast as a Cheetah
Meaning: Extremely quick, likening speed to that of the fastest land animal.
In a Sentence: The courier moved fast as a cheetah, delivering urgent packages across the city in record time despite heavy traffic.
48. Quick on the Trigger
Meaning: Someone who reacts or responds very rapidly, often impulsively.
In a Sentence: He was quick on the trigger during the quiz show, buzzing in with correct answers before the host finished asking the questions.
49. In a Rush
Meaning: Acting or moving with urgency or haste.
In a Sentence: She threw together a presentation in a rush, managing to create a polished slideshow just minutes before the meeting began.
50. Like a House on Fire
Meaning: Very quickly and with great intensity or success.
In a Sentence: The team worked like a house on fire, completing the project with such rapid collaboration that they impressed their client immensely.
Quizzes About The Idioms in The Article
Quiz 1: Quick as a Flash
What does the idiom “Quick as a flash” mean?
a) Moving slowly
b) Extremely fast
c) Being cautious
d) Acting carelessly
Quiz 2: In the Blink of an Eye
What is the meaning of “In the blink of an eye”?
a) A long process
b) Happening very quickly
c) A delayed action
d) A complicated task
Quiz 3: Like Greased Lightning
When someone moves “like greased lightning,” what are they emphasizing?
a) Sluggish movement
b) Incredibly fast speed
c) Careful precision
d) Hesitant action
Quiz 4: At the Drop of a Hat
What does the idiom “At the drop of a hat” suggest?
a) Acting after delay
b) Acting immediately
c) Avoiding action
d) Planning carefully
Quiz 5: In No Time Flat
What situation is described by the idiom “In no time flat”?
a) A slow process
b) Very quickly
c) A failed attempt
d) A lengthy task
Quiz 6: Quick on the Draw
If someone is “quick on the draw,” what does it mean?
a) Slow to react
b) Rapidly responsive
c) Unprepared
d) Overly cautious
Quiz 7: In a New York Minute
What does the expression “In a New York minute” imply?
a) A long wait
b) Very quickly
c) A complicated process
d) A relaxed pace
Quiz 8: Lickety-Split
When is it appropriate to say, “Lickety-split”?
a) When something is delayed
b) When something is done quickly
c) When something fails
d) When something is planned
Quiz 9: Quick as a Whip
What is the meaning of “Quick as a whip”?
a) Slow and confused
b) Extremely fast and smart
c) Careless and rushed
d) Hesitant and unsure
Quiz 10: At Full Tilt
When something is “at full tilt,” what is it being described as?
a) Moving slowly
b) Operating at maximum speed
c) Pausing briefly
d) Acting cautiously
Answers:
- b
- b
- b
- b
- b
- b
- b
- b
- b
- b
Conclusion
Idioms for quick are like bursts of energy in the language, propelling your conversations about speed and efficiency with vivid, memorable expressions. Whether you’re describing a lightning-fast reaction, a rapid task completion, or an urgent situation, these 50 idioms offer a creative and engaging way to convey the thrill of quickness. By weaving these expressions into your discussions, you can add vibrancy, humor, and precision, making your descriptions of swift actions more dynamic and impactful. So, the next time you talk about something or someone moving at top speed, sprinkle in these idioms to capture the moment with linguistic zest.