in the twinkling of an eye

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.

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