jiffy

in a flash

Immediately; very quickly; at once. Just call us on this number if you have any problems, and we'll be back in a flash. Don't worry, boss, I'll have this report typed up in a flash!

See also: flash

jiffy

A very short amount of time. Used in the phrase "in a jiffy," meaning immediately, very quickly, or at once. Just call us on this number if you have any problems, and we'll be back in a jiffy. Don't worry, boss, I'll have this report typed up in a jiffy!

in a flash

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

See also: flash

in a jiffy

Fig. very fast; very soon. Just wait a minute. I'll be there in a jiffy. I'll be finished in a jiffy.

See also: jiffy

in a flash

Also, in a jiffy or second or trice . Quickly, immediately. For example, I'll be with you in a flash, or He said he'd be done in a jiffy, or I'll be off the phone in a second, or I felt a drop or two, and in a trice there was a downpour. The first idiom alludes to a flash of lightning and dates from about 1800. The word jiffy, meaning "a short time," is of uncertain origin and dates from the late 1700s (as does the idiom using it); a second, literally one-sixtieth of a minute, has been used vaguely to mean "a very short time" since the early 1800s; and trice originally meant "a single pull at something" and has been used figuratively since the 1500s.

See also: flash

jiffy

see under in a flash.

in a flash

mod. right away; immediately. (see also flash.) Get over here in a flash, or else.

See also: flash

in a jiff(y)

mod. right away; immediately. (see also jiffy.) The clerk’ll be with you in a jiff.

See also: jiffy

jiffy

(ˈdʒɪfi)

n. a very short time. (see also in a jiff(y).) Just a jiffy, I’ll be there.