swift

(as) swift as a deer

Incredibly swiftly or speedily. The shoppers ran through the mall swift as deer in search of great deals. Swift as a deer, Mary finished her exam and raced out of the classroom. I'm not sure who that boy was. I couldn't get a good enough look at his face before he bolted out of our yard swift as a deer.

See also: deer, swift

(as) swift as an arrow

Incredibly swiftly or speedily. The karate expert had the would-be mugger unconscious on the ground as swift as an arrow. Swift as an arrow, Mary finished her exam and raced out of the classroom. The shoppers ran through the mall as swift as arrows in search of great deals.

See also: an, arrow, swift

(as) swift as lightning

Incredibly swiftly or speedily. The karate expert had the would-be mugger unconscious on the ground as swift as lightning. Swift as lightning, Mary finished her exam and raced out of the classroom. The shoppers ran through the mall as swift as lightning in search of great deals.

See also: lightning, swift

(as) swift as the wind

Incredibly swiftly or speedily. The karate expert had the would-be mugger unconscious on the ground as swift as the wind. Swift as the wind, Mary finished her exam and raced out of the classroom. The shoppers ran through the mall as swift as the wind in search of great deals.

See also: swift, wind

(as) swift as thought

Incredibly swiftly or speedily. A talented orator, the congressional candidate could speak as swift as thought itself. You must be swift as thought if you wish to make it there on time! I'm not sure who that boy was. I couldn't get a good enough look at his face before he bolted out of our yard swift as thought.

See also: swift, thought

be swift to hear, slow to speak

proverb Listen attentively and don't rush to speak. The phrase comes from the Bible. A: "It would really serve him well to be swift to hear, slow to speak." B: "I know, his mouth always seems to get him into trouble." The Bible encourages us all to be swift to hear, slow to speak, which is pretty good advice, honestly. Being swift to hear, slow to speak will serve you well in marriage, my dear.

See also: slow, speak, swift, to

life is short(, and time is swift)

proverb Our time in this life is very limited, so we should strive to enjoy it as much as we can. I know you think skydiving is reckless, but life is short, and it's something I've always wanted to do. If we did everything the doctors said, we'd do nothing but eat vegetables and exercise all day, every day—life is short and time is swift.

See also: and, life, time

swift and sure

Fast, direct, and indisputable. The legislation provides consumers with a swift and sure method of protecting their privacy and personal data. The judge's decision in the case was swift and sure.

See also: and, sure, swift

swift half

informal An alcoholic drink, commonly half the usual amount (i.e., a half-pint of beer), that is to be consumed quickly. Primarily heard in UK. A: "I can't go to the pub with you guys, I have to get home." B: "Oh, come on, just have a swift half!"

See also: half, swift

swiftboat

To subject (someone) to a malicious and false or misleading political smear campaign. A reference to the 2004 US presidential campaign of John Kerry, whose opponents challenged the legitimacy of his military record—which included four months as the commander of a swift boat in Vietnam. Primarily heard in US. Her political enemies have been continually embellishing and misconstruing her involvement with the controversial group as a way to swiftboat her during the final weeks of the election. They've swiftboated the senator with allegations of tax evasion, but he has so far managed to minimize the impact of their efforts.

swiftboating

The practice of subjecting a political candidate to a malicious and false or misleading political smear campaign. A reference to the 2004 US presidential campaign of John Kerry, whose opponents challenged the legitimacy of his military record—during which he spent four months as the commander of a swift boat in Vietnam. Primarily heard in US. These claims are false. They amount to nothing more than swiftboating, specifically designed to undermine my credibility in the final weeks of the election. They tried swiftboating the senator with allegations of tax evasion, but he has so far managed to minimize the impact of their efforts.

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

Life is short and time is swift.

Prov. You should enjoy life as much as possible, because it does not last very long. Jill: Want to go to the movies with me? Jane: Oh, I don't know; I should probably stay at work and finish a few things. Jill: Come on, Jane, life is short and time is swift.

See also: and, life, short, swift, time

*quick as a wink

 and *quick as a flash; *quick as (greased) lightning; *swift as lightning

very quickly. (*Also: as ~.) As quick as a wink, the thief took the lady's purse. I'll finish this work quick as a flash. Quick as greased lightning, the thief stole my wallet.

See also: quick, wink

swift and sure

fast and certain. (As with the flight of a well-aimed arrow.) The response of the governor to the criticism by the opposing party was swift and sure. The boxer's punch was swift and sure and resulted in a quick knockout and a very short match.

See also: and, sure, swift

*swift as an arrow

 and *swift as the wind; *swift as thought

very fast. (*Also: as ~.) The new intercity train is swift as an arrow. You won't have to wait for me long; I'll be there, swift as thought.

See also: an, arrow, swift

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

quick as a wink

Also, quick as a bunny or a flash . Very speedily, as in He was out of here quick as a wink, or She answered, quick as a bunny. These similes have largely replaced the earlier quick as lightning, although quick as a flash no doubt alludes to it (also see like greased lightning), and quick as thought, now obsolete. The bunny variant dates from the mid-1800s, the others from the late 1800s.

See also: quick, wink

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

swift

1. mod. smart and clever. Excuse my brother. He’s not too swift.

2. mod. sexually fast or easy, usually said of a woman. Britney is swift, they say, but I find her to be a perfect lady.

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.