quick (redirected from cuts to the quick)

*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: wink

cut someone to the quick and cut someone to the bone 

1. Lit. to slice the flesh of someone or some animal clear through to the underlying layer of flesh or to the bone. With the very sharp knife, David cut the beast to the quick in one blow. He cut his finger to the quick with the sharp knife.

2. Fig. to injure someone emotionally. (See also cut something to the bone.) Your heartless comments cut me to the quick. Her remarks cut him to the bone.

See also: cut

make a fast buck and make a quick buck

to make money with little effort or in a short time. Tom is always ready to make a fast buck. I made a quick buck selling used cars.

See also: buck, fast, make

quick and dirty

Fig. [done] fast and carelessly; [done] fast and cheaply. l am not interested in a quick and dirty job. I want it done right. The contractor made a lot of money on quick and dirty projects that would never last very long.

See also: and, dirty

quick like a bunny

really quick. Now's your chance. Do it! Quick like a bunny!

See also: bunny, like

quick off the mark

quick starting or reacting. (Compare this with slow off the mark.) Boy, you were quick off the mark there! If you can be really quick off the mark, you can soon find the answer.

See also: mark

quick on the trigger and quick on the draw 

1. Lit. quick to draw a gun and shoot. Some of the old cowboys were known to be quick on the trigger. Wyatt Earp was particularly quick on the draw.

2. Fig. quick to respond to anything. John gets the right answer before anyone else. He's really quick on the trigger. Sally will probably win the quiz game. She's really quick on the draw.

See also: trigger

quick on the uptake

quick to understand or learn something. Just because I'm not quick on the uptake, it doesn't mean I'm stupid. Mary understands jokes before anyone else because she's so quick on the uptake.

See also: uptake

quick study

a person who is quick to learn things. (Compare this to slow study.) Jane, who is a quick study, caught the joke immediately and laughed before everyone else.

See also: study

quick temper and short temper; short fuse

a bad temper that can be easily aroused. Tyler has a quick temper and doesn't mind letting everyone see it.

See also: temper

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a quick fix  (informal)

a quick solution to a problem, especially one which is only temporary The truth about dieting is that there is no quick fix. Weight must be lost gradually, over a period of time.

See also: fix

a quick one  (informal)

a quick, usually alcoholic drink Have you got time for a quick one before you go?

See also: one

a quick study  (American informal)

someone who is able to learn things quickly He's a quick study and easily grasps all the details of a discussion.

See also: study

as quick as a flash/wink  also as quick as lightning

if you do something as quick as a flash, you do it very quickly Quick as a flash, he snatched the book and ran out of the room.

See also: flash

be quick off the mark

to be quick to act or to react to an event or situation The police were quick off the mark reaching the scene of the accident.

See make a fast buck, be quick on the draw, cut to the quick

See also: mark

be quick on the draw

to be fast at understanding or reacting to a situation He was quick on the draw answering the reporter's questions. (mainly American)

See also: draw

cut somebody to the quick  (old-fashioned)

to upset someone by criticizing them (usually passive) I was cut to the quick by her harsh remarks.

See also: cut

make a fast/quick buck  (American & Australian informal)

to earn money quickly and often in a way that is not honest

Usage notes: A buck is an informal word for a dollar (= a unit of money in America).

Times are hard - you have to make a fast buck wherever and however you can.

See also: buck, fast, make

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quick on the draw

able to react quickly to a situation He was quick on the draw answering the reporter's questions.

Usage notes: sometimes said about a person who reacts too quickly to a situation and makes serious mistakes

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of quick on the draw (able to take out and shoot a gun quickly)

See also: draw