flash (redirected from like a flash)

*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

flash something around

to display something so everyone can see it. (Usually something one would hold in one's hand.) Don't flash your money around on the streets. She flashed around the pictures of her grandchildren every chance she got.

See also: around

flash something at someone or something 

1. Lit. to shine a light quickly on someone or something. Larry flashed a light at Frank to verify his identity. We flashed the light at each doorway, looking for the address we had been sent to.

2. Fig. to show something, such as a badge, to someone or a group quickly. The cop flashed his badge at the suspect. The security officer came in and flashed his badge at the board of directors.

flash something up (some place)

to shine a light upwards toward something. Flash your light up into the tree. She flashed up her light at the cat in the tree. Gloria flashed the light up.

See also: up

flash a smile (at someone)

Fig. to smile quickly and perhaps briefly at someone. She flashed a smile at me as if she recognized me.

See also: smile

flash across something 

1. Lit. [for something bright] to move quickly across something. The telephone number flashed across the television screen too fast for me to copy it down. The spotlight flashed across the audience, blinding me as it went by.

2. Fig. [for an idea or image] to move quickly through one's mind. A solution to the problem suddenly flashed across my mind. Thoughts of food flashed across my mind, and I began to be very hungry.

See also: across

flash back (to someone or something)

to return briefly to a view of someone or something in the past. (In films, literature, and television.) The story suddenly flashed back to Tom when he was a child. The story flashed back to Tom's childhood.

See also: back

flash back (to someone or something)

to return briefly to a view of someone or something in the past. (In films, literature, and television.) The story suddenly flashed back to Tom when he was a child. The story flashed back to Tom's childhood.

See also: back

flash in the pan

Fig. someone or something that draws a lot of attention for a very brief time. I'm afraid that my success as a painter was just a flash in the pan. Tom had hoped to be a major film star, but his career was only a flash in the pan.

See also: pan

flash into one's mind

Fig. [for an idea or image] to enter one's mind for an instant. (See also flash through one's mind) A brilliant idea flashed into her mind, and she wrote it down. When the idea flashed into my mind, I closed my eyes and tried to forget it.

See also: mind

flash into view

Fig. to move quickly into view. Suddenly, a doe and her fawn flashed into view. A bright parrot flashed into view and squawked raucously.

See also: view

flash off

[for a light] to go off suddenly. (See also flash on.) The light flashed off and it was dark for a few minutes. When the lights flashed off, I was setting my watch.

flash on

[for a light] to turn on suddenly. The light flashed on and woke us up. When the light flashed on, I had just been getting to sleep.

flash on someone or something

[for a light] to shine on someone or something suddenly or in bursts. The orange neon light flashed on John's face, making him look quite strange. The light flashed on the window shade, startling the occupants of the room.

flash on something

Sl. to remember something suddenly and vividly. Then I flashed on a great idea. I was trying to flash on her name, but I couldn't bring it to mind.

flash out

[for a light] to shine out of something suddenly or in bursts. The light flashed out, signaling us to stay away from the rocks. Under the door, we saw a light flashing out. Someone was watching television in that room.

See also: out

flash through one's mind

Fig. [for an idea or image] to move quickly through one's mind. (See also flash into one's mind) Suddenly, a great idea flashed through my mind. The same idea flashed through all of our minds at once.

See also: mind, through

flash with anger and flash with recognition; flash with eagerness

[for someone's eyes] to "glimmer" or seem to communicate a particular quality or excitement. Her green eyes flashed with anger. Ellen's eyes flashed with recognition when she saw me.

See also: anger

in a flash

Fig. quickly; immediately. I'll be there in a flash. It happened in a flash. Suddenly my wallet was gone.

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a flash in the pan

something that happens only once or for a short time and will not be repeated We're hoping that this is a long-term opportunity, and not just a flash in the pan.

See also: pan

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: quick

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a flash in the pan

briefly successful or popular At first, some of the major record labels thought rock ’n’ roll was just a flash in the pan.

Usage notes: sometimes used in the form no flash in the pan (successful or popular for more than a brief period): This trend is no flash in the pan.

See also: pan

in a flash

suddenly She remembered the answer in a flash. I heard her scream and in a flash was back in the house.