before you can say Jack Robinson

before you can say Jack Robinson
разг.
(before you can (или could) say Jack Robinson (тж. before you can или could say knife))
немедленно, моментально; сразу же, тут же; ≈ в два счёта, в мгновение ока; и опомниться или ахнуть не успел; не успел и глазом моргнуть

The equipage dashed forward, and before you could say Jack Robinson, with a rattle and flourish drew up at Soames's door. (J. Galsworthy, ‘The Man of Property’, part II, ch. III) — Экипаж рванулся вперед и в мгновение ока с грохотом подкатил к дому Сомса.

Look here, my boy, when you're in my hotel you behave like a gentleman or you'll find yourself in the street before you can say knife. (W. S. Maugham, ‘Complete Short Stories’, ‘The Pool’) — Послушайте, любезный, когда вы находитесь в моей гостинице, извольте вести себя как подобает порядочному человеку, а не то и оглянуться не успеете, как я вышвырну вас на улицу.

I once saw one of the beasts stop at a stall of fruit and vegetables and before you could say "knife" it had cleared the place from end to end... (A. J. Cronin, ‘Hatter's Castle’, book III, ch. I) — Я раз видел, как одна корова остановилась у прилавка с фруктами и овощами, я и опомниться не успел, как она мигом очистила весь прилавок...

Mrs. Maginnis put a match to the stove. ‘Nice hot tea before you can say knife,’ she called to nobody, as she filled the kettle. (P. H. Johnson, ‘This Bed Thy Centre’, ch. I) — Миссис Магиннис наполнила чайник водой и, поставив его на плиту, сказала, ни к кому не обращаясь: - Как славно: не успеешь и глазом моргнуть, готов отличный горячий чай.


Большой англо-русский фразеологический словарь. - М.: «Русский язык-Медиа».. 2006.

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Смотреть что такое "before you can say Jack Robinson" в других словарях:

  • before you can say Jack Robinson — before (you) can say Jack Robinson old fashioned if you say that something happens before you can say Jack Robinson, it happens very suddenly. I offered her a chocolate but before you could say Jack Robinson she d eaten half the box …   New idioms dictionary

  • before you can say jack robinson — The term Jack Robinson represents a short amount of time . When you do something before you can say Jack Robinson, you do it very quickly …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • before you can say Jack Robinson — phrase immediately, or suddenly Thesaurus: happening or done quickly, suddenly or immediatelysynonym Main entry: Jack Robinson …   Useful english dictionary

  • before you can say Jack Robinson —    The term Jack Robinson represents a short amount of time . </p><p>When you do something before you can say Jack Robinson, you do it very quickly.   (Dorking School Dictionary) …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • before you can say Jack Robinson — adverb Very quickly. Quicker than you expect. You have to be careful in that area. Theyll have your wallet before you can say Jack Robinson. Syn: in the twinkling of an eye, quick as a flash …   Wiktionary

  • before you can say Jack Robinson — very quickly, in a split second, in no time    Before you could say Jack Robinson, the ghost was gone! …   English idioms

  • before one can say Jack Robinson — • before one knows where he is • before one can say Jack Robinson (from Idioms in Speech) very quickly; in no time He was very aged in the Vale you got to be a hundred before you knew where you were. (A. Coppard) ... she greeted me jovially, and …   Idioms and examples

  • quicker than you can say Jack Robinson — very quickly, before you can say Jack Robinson    The ghost was gone quicker n you can say Jack Robinson! …   English idioms

  • before you can say Jack Robinson — immediately, or suddenly …   English dictionary

  • before you can say Jack Robinson —  or knife  Instantly …   A concise dictionary of English slang

  • before can say Jack Robinson — before (you) can say Jack Robinson old fashioned if you say that something happens before you can say Jack Robinson, it happens very suddenly. I offered her a chocolate but before you could say Jack Robinson she d eaten half the box …   New idioms dictionary


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