wink (redirected from winked at)

*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

catch forty winks and take forty winks; have forty winks

Fig. to take a nap; to get some sleep. I'll just catch forty winks before getting ready for the party. I think I'll go to bed and take forty winks. See you in the morning.

See also: catch, forty

forty winks

Fig. a nap; some sleep. I could use forty winks before I have to get to work. I need forty winks before I get started again.

See also: forty

in the twinkling of an eye and in the wink of an eye

Fig. very quickly. In the twinkling of an eye, the deer had disappeared into the forest. I gave Bill ten dollars and, in the twinkling of an eye, he spent it.

See also: eye

nod is as good as a wink to a blind horse

Prov. You cannot get people to take a hint if they are determined not to. Jill: I keep hinting to the boss that I deserve a raise, but he doesn't seem to get the point. Jane: I'm not surprised. A nod's as good as a wink to a blind horse.

See also: blind, good, horse, nod

not sleep a wink

not to sleep at all. I couldn't sleep a wink last night. Ann hasn't been able to sleep a wink for a week.

See also: sleep

wink something away

to blink the eyes to try to clear them of tears, dirt, etc. He looked up at me and tried to wink away his tears, but he was just too upset. Jane winked away her tears.

See also: away

wink at someone

to close one eye at a person as a sign of friendliness or flirtation. She winked at him and he was shocked. I hope she winks at me again.

wink at something

to pretend not to see something; to condone something wrong. (See also blink at something {2}.) The police officer winked at my failure to make a complete stop. I cannot wink at blatant infractions of the law!

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not sleep a wink  also not get a wink of sleep

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 tip the wink

See also: sleep

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

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, 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.

See also: forty

in the twinkling of an eye

if something happens in the twinkling of an eye, it happens very quickly This machine will do all the calculations in the twinkling of an eye.

See also: eye

tip somebody 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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in the twinkling of an eye

very quickly This machine will do all the calculations in the twinkling of an eye.

See also: eye

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