wink (redirected from in a wink)

as quick as a flash/wink

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, quick

forty winks (informal)

a short sleep during the day. She just had time to put her feet up and catch forty winks before dinner.

A nod's as good as a wink. (British & Australian, humorous)

something that you say when you have understood what was meant by something although it was not expressed in a direct way. I know when I'm not wanted, so don't try to say anything more - a nod's as good as a wink.

See also: good

not sleep a wink

to not sleep at all. I was so excited last night - I didn't sleep a wink. I didn't get a wink of sleep on the plane.

See also: sleep

tip someone the wink (British & Australian, old-fashioned)

to secretly give someone a piece of information that will help them. So if you hear of any jobs going in your department, just tip me the wink, would you?

See also: tip

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not sleep a wink

to not sleep at all. I was so excited about our trip that I didn't sleep a wink last night.

Usage notes: sometimes used in the forms not get a wink of sleep or not have a wink of sleep: Poor Henry didn't get a wink of sleep on the plane.

See also: sleep