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At the drop of a hat
| If you do something at the drop of a hat, you do it
immediately
and without hesitation
"I've got great friends.
They're ready to help out at the drop of a hat." |
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At one fell swoop |
If something is accomplished at one fell swoop, it is done
in a
single action, usually rapidly and ruthlessly.
"The three houses were demolished at one fell swoop." |
| Beat
someone to the draw |
If you beat someone to the draw you react more quickly and
manage to do something before they do.
"Ross was determined to be the first to arrive and beat the others
to the draw." |
Before you know it/
before you know where you are |
If something takes place so suddenly that you don't have time to
become aware of it, it happens before you know it
or before
you know where you are.
"The doorbell rang, and before we knew it, a surprise birthday
party
was under way!" |
| Fast and furious |
If an activity is fast and
furious, it is done quickly and with a lot
of energy.
"Eager to win the race, the competitors came fast and furious
around the bend." |
| Get a move on |
If someone tells you to get a move on, they are asking you to
hurry up.
"You'd better get a move on or you'll miss the bus!" |
| Go hell for leather |
If you go hell for leather, you go somewhere or do something
very fast.
"I saw Tom going hell for leather towards the
station." |
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In the blink
of an eye |
If something happens in the blink of an eye, it happens nearly
instantaneously, with hardly enough time to notice it.
"The pickpocket disappeared in the blink of an eye." |
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In/by leaps and bounds |
If you do something in/by leaps and bounds, you make rapid or
spectacular progress or growth.
"The number of subscribers to the review has grown in leaps and
bounds." |
In two
shakes (of a lamb's tail)
|
To do something in two shakes (of a lamb's tail) means
to do it very quickly or in a moment.
"It'll be ready in two shakes (of a lamb's tail)." |
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Light
years ahead |
If someone or something is light years ahead, they are far
ahead
in terms of
development or progress.
"We've got to invest more in research - our competitors are
light
years ahead!" |
Like a bat out of
hell
|
If something moves like a bat out of hell, it
moves very quickly.
"He grabbed the envelope and ran
like a bat out of hell. |
| Like wildfire |
If something such as news, rumours or gossip
spreads like
wildfire, it becomes widely known very fast.
"As soon as the nomination was announced, the news spread
like wildfire." |
| Make it snappy! |
If someone tells you to make it snappy, they are asking you
very sharply to hurry up or to be quick about something.
"Fetch me a bandage and make it snappy!" |
| Nineteen to the dozen |
If someone talks nineteen to the dozen, they speak very quickly.
"He was talking nineteen to the dozen so I didn't catch the whole
story!" |
| Quick as a dog can lick a dish |
If you do something surprisingly fast, or suddenly, you do it
as quick as a dog can lick a dish.
"He packed his bag as quick as a dog can lick a dish." |
| Race against time |
If someone is in a race against time, they have to work very quickly
in order to do or finish something before a certain time.
"It was a race against time to get everything ready for the inauguration." |
| Step
on the gas |
If someone tells you to step on the gas they are encouraging
you
to accelerate or hurry up in order to get something done quickly.
"We'd better step on the gas and get these figures printed. The
meeting starts in half an hour." |
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Throw something together |
If you throw something together, you make or produce
something
quickly and without effort.
"Why don't you stay for dinner - I'll throw something together!" |
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