in the wink of an eye
In a flash
In the wink of an eye means in an instant—so quickly the action seems to take no time at all.
A wink happens involuntarily fast, and the phrase captures that sense of suddenness: The opportunity vanished in the wink of an eye.
Often shortened to in a wink.
- in a flashWithout any delay
- instantaneousHappening without any delay
- blink-and-you-miss-itToo brief to catch
- blinkRapid lid movement
- fleetingPassing very quickly
split-second · in no time · in two shakes · abrupt · swift · immediate · lickety-split · in an instant · in a trice · rapid · before you know it · flicker · momentary · quicksilver · at the drop of a hat · just like that · glance · surprising
speed/duration
in the wink of an eyegradually
In slow stages
slowly · over time · at a snail's pace · little by little · eventually
perceptibility of process
in the wink of an eyegradually
In slow stages
incrementally · progressively · by degrees · imperceptibly · evolutionarily