- Meaning
- This idiom describes something happening extremely quickly or instantaneously, as fast as the blink of an eye. It conveys rapid change or action, often used in narrative, religious, or dramatic contexts to emphasize speed or suddenness. The phrase carries a tone of awe, urgency, or wonder, reflecting cultural values of time’s fleeting nature and the human tendency to marvel at swift events. Its ocular imagery evokes a fleeting moment, resonating in scenarios like transformations or surprises. The idiom captures the brevity of time, making it a poetic metaphor for instantaneous change.
- Origin
- The phrase originated in the Bible, specifically 1 Corinthians 15:52 (1599 Geneva Bible), stating the dead will rise ‘in the twinkling of an eye’ at the last trumpet. Its English use was cemented in the 16th century, with William Shakespeare’s *The Merchant of Venice* (1596) using it for swift action. The idiom gained traction in 19th-century sermons and literature, notably in John Bunyan’s *Pilgrim’s Progress* (1678). Its spread was amplified by religious and literary traditions, enduring in English-speaking cultures for its vivid imagery and timeless relevance to sudden change.
- Variants
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- Twinkling of an eye
- In a twinkling
- In the blink of an eye
- Examples
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- In the twinkling of an eye, the storm swept through the village.
- Twinkling of an eye, and the deal was sealed.
- In a twinkling, she changed her mind about the trip.
- In the blink of an eye, the car vanished around the corner.
- In the twinkling of an eye, their fortunes reversed.
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