in the blink of an eye
Meaning
Very quickly; in an extremely short amount of time.
Origin
A time comparison based on how fast a person blinks (a fraction of a second). It’s been used in English for centuries (also appearing in biblical/older literary phrasing) to mean “instantaneously.”
Notes
Common, neutral idiom emphasizing how fast something happens—often a sudden change or event. Slightly hyperbolic but standard.
Examples
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The storm rolled in in the blink of an eye, and the sky turned black.
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I looked away for a second, and in the blink of an eye my coffee was gone.
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With a single click, the file was uploaded in the blink of an eye.
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The kids grew up in the blink of an eye, and suddenly they were off to college.
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The magician made the coin disappear in the blink of an eye.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Usually used as an adverbial prepositional phrase: “It happened in the blink of an eye.” Also common after “in”: “In the blink of an eye, everything changed.” Fixed wording; often with “the,” sometimes “a blink of an eye.”
Synonyms
- in an instant
- in a flash
- in no time
- in the twinkling of an eye
Antonyms
- slowly
- little by little
- over time