in the twinkling of an eye

English

Etymology

From Middle English in the twynklyng of an iȝe, in þe twynklynk of an eiȝe, from the Bible, 1 Corinthians 15:52: We shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.

Pronunciation

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Prepositional phrase

in the twinkling of an eye

1. (idiomatic) Immediately; instantaneously.
   • circa 1598, William Shakespeare, "The Merchant Of Venice":

     I'll take my leave of the Jew in the twinkling of an eye.

   • 2007 April 28, Hugh Muir, The Guardian:

     All my dreams for him have been cut short in the twinkling of an eye. Why was my son murdered?

Synonyms

• in the wink of an eye, in the blink of an eye

Translations

immediately, instantaneously — see in the blink of an eye