in a trice
Before you blink
In a trice means very quickly, in an instant: She was out the door in a trice.
The phrase is somewhat old-fashioned but still appears in written English.
A trice was originally a single pull or tug—something done in one quick motion.
- instantBriefest unit of time
- in a flashWithout any delay
- flashBrief burst of light
- blinkRapid lid movement
- blink of an eyeExtremely brief duration
moment · jiffy · in no time · second · split second · snap · snap of fingers · heartbeat · wink · swift · quick · speedy · sudden · rapid · presto · just like that · whoosh · lightning
- Quick wordsinstant, swift, rapid, fast, speedy
- Speed Expressionsin a flash, quick as a flash, in no time, lickety-split, lickety split
- suddennesssudden, suddenly, abrupt, abruptly, instant
speed/duration
in a tricegradually
In slow stages
slowly · eventually · over time · in due course · little by little