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Glite Dictionary
before you can say knife

before you can say knife

9.9
It happens very quickly
  • idiom
  • UK
: en un abrir y cerrar de ojos
  • She packed her bag and left the room before you can say knife.

Examples

  • The cat jumped off the table before you can say knife!

  • The solution appeared before you can say knife, surprising the whole team.

  • He finished the puzzle before you can say knife, impressing everyone.

  • He finished his homework before you can say knife.

  • The magician performed his trick before you can say knife, leaving the audience in awe.

  • She solved the computer problem before you can say knife, impressing her colleagues.

  • The baby crawled across the floor before you can say knife, surprising everyone in the room.

Synonyms

quickly
vsbefore you can say knife
∞ 1.0

At a fast speed or without delay

is a stronger more idiomatic expression stressing suddenness
suddenly
vsbefore you can say knife
∞ 1.0

Quickly and without warning

is a more expressive phrase that adds emphasis to sudden events
quick
vsbefore you can say knife
  • Informal
∞ 1.0

Happening or done without any delay

is more emphatic and idiomatic, stressing sudden timing
rapidly
vsbefore you can say knife
356 1.4

In a very short time

adds suddenness and expressive force beyond mere speed
swiftly
vsbefore you can say knife
75 1.0

Quickly and smoothly

emphasizes suddenness and immediacy rather than smooth motion
in a flash
vsbefore you can say knife
  • Informal
32 2.5

Very quickly in a single moment

adds extra emphasis to how quickly or suddenly something occurs
in the blink of an eye
vsbefore you can say knife
  • Informal
24 3.3

Very quickly, in almost no time

adds idiomatic emphasis to suddenness beyond plain quickness
in the snap of someone's fingers
vsbefore you can say knife
  • Informal
1 5.0

Happens very quickly

focuses more on expressive suddenness than on effortlessness

Antonyms

slowly
∞ 1.0

At a low speed without hurrying

gradually
228 1.9

Slowly and steadily over time

How Fast

in the blink of an eye
  • Informal
24 3.3
in a flash
  • Informal
32 2.5
before you can say knife
  • UK
9.9
in no time
156 1.3
soon
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

before you can say knife main

Morphology

before + you + can + say + knife

The literal parts ('before' + 'you' + 'can' + 'say' + 'knife') only convey temporal sequence and the act of uttering a word, not the notion of rapidity; the meaning 'very quickly' is a conventionalized, formulaic use. This is an idiomatic, language-specific expression (like 'before you can say Jack Robinson') whose overall meaning cannot be derived from its constituents, so a B1 learner knowing the words would likely not predict the idiomatic sense.

Etymology

Before you can say knife may come from the idea that the short word knife is so quick to say that if something happens before you can even say it, it must be very fast. So, the phrase means 'happens very quickly'.