in the snap of someone's fingers

1 5.0

Happens very quickly

idiom

Informal

: en un abrir y cerrar de ojos

The answer came to her in the snap of her fingers.

Examples

He fixed the computer in the snap of his fingers, amazing everyone in the office.
You can call a cab in the snap of your fingers using this new app.
She finished the project in the snap of her fingers!
Can you solve this puzzle in the snap of her fingers?
The magician made the rabbit disappear in the snap of someone's fingers.
She finished the assignment in the snap of someone's fingers.
The lights turned off in the snap of someone's fingers, leaving us in darkness.

Synonyms

quickly

vsin the snap of someone's fingers

∞ 1.0

At a fast speed or without delay

is faster still and implies little effort rather than mere speed

suddenly

vsin the snap of someone's fingers

∞ 1.0

Quickly and without warning

is instant and effortless, not necessarily involving surprise or lack of warning

immediately

vsin the snap of someone's fingers

∞ 1.0

At once without waiting

is instantaneous with little effort rather than only prompt occurrence

rapidly

vsin the snap of someone's fingers

356 1.4

In a very short time

is instantaneous and stresses low effort rather than ongoing speed

instantly

vsin the snap of someone's fingers

310 1.0

Right away without any delay

is quicker and suggests little effort rather than only promptness

at once

vsin the snap of someone's fingers

237 1.0

Immediately without delay

is immediate and often effortless rather than only urging promptness

in no time

vsin the snap of someone's fingers

156 1.3

Very quickly, in a short time

is immediate and effortless, not only quickly finished later

on the spot

vsin the snap of someone's fingers

131 2.8

Immediately at the exact place where something happens, often needing a quick response

is instant and effortless regardless of location rather than location bound

swiftly

vsin the snap of someone's fingers

75 1.0

Quickly and smoothly

is instantaneous and suggests little effort rather than smooth speed

hastily

vsin the snap of someone's fingers

43 3.5

In a quick, careless way

is instant and effortless rather than rushed and likely careless in approach

blink of an eye

vsin the snap of someone's fingers

Informal

34 2.8

A very short moment that passes almost instantly

is instant action carried out with minimal effort rather than duration

in a flash

vsin the snap of someone's fingers

Informal

32 2.5

Very quickly in a single moment

is immediate and stresses little effort rather than only high speed

instantaneously

vsin the snap of someone's fingers

25 5.6

Happen at once without delay

is faster and implies little effort rather than mere promptness

in the blink of an eye

vsin the snap of someone's fingers

Informal

24 3.3

Very quickly, in almost no time

is instant and effortless rather than only very brief in time

in haste

vsin the snap of someone's fingers

19 2.8

Quickly and without careful thought

is instant and usually effortless rather than hurried and careless in manner

in short order

vsin the snap of someone's fingers

19 3.5

Very quickly without delay

is instant and effortless rather than simply being scheduled soon

hurriedly

vsin the snap of someone's fingers

15 3.2

Acting quickly with little care

is instant and low effort rather than rushed with possible lack of care

speedily

vsin the snap of someone's fingers

6 2.4

To act quickly without delay

is instant and effortless rather than simply performed without delay

lickety-split

vsin the snap of someone's fingers

Informal

3 8.8

Happens very quickly and without delay

is instantaneous and somewhat neutral rather than playful speed expression

like a shot

vsin the snap of someone's fingers

Informal

3 6.0

Very quickly and without hesitation

is instant and usually needs little effort rather than sudden haste

in a snap

vsin the snap of someone's fingers

Informal

2 3.0

It happens very quickly with little effort

is the same idea but expressed with a longer idiom

wink of an eye

vsin the snap of someone's fingers

Informal

2 3.8

In a very short time

is instant and effortless rather than only stressing sudden timing

at a good clip

vsin the snap of someone's fingers

Informal

1 6.0

Moving at a fairly fast speed

is instant action done with little effort rather than sustained pace

in nothing flat

vsin the snap of someone's fingers

Archaic

1 7.0

In a very short time

is instant and often effortless rather than merely very fast

in the wink of an eye

vsin the snap of someone's fingers

Informal

1 3.5

Very quickly, in an instant

is instant and effortless compared with that same brief suddenness

with a quickness

vsin the snap of someone's fingers

Informal

1 7.2

In a very short time

is instant and effortless rather than merely showing urgent speed

quick as a flash

vsin the snap of someone's fingers

Informal

1 2.0

Happen very fast

is instant and suggests little effort rather than dramatic speed alone

in a breeze

vsin the snap of someone's fingers

Informal

1 3.0

People do it very easily with little effort

is about instant action rather than highlighting ease of task

quick sticks

vsin the snap of someone's fingers

1 8.8

Very fast without waiting

is instant and implies little effort rather than informal immediacy

in an eyeblink

vsin the snap of someone's fingers

Informal

1 6.8

Happen very quickly in the short time it takes to blink an eye

is instant and implies ease rather than merely brief suddenness

in the bat of an eye

vsin the snap of someone's fingers

Informal

1 5.1

Very quickly, in almost no time

is instant and effortless rather than only very short in duration

in jig time

vsin the snap of someone's fingers

Archaic

1 7.9

In a very short time

is instant and requires little effort rather than merely happening soon

before you can say knife

vsin the snap of someone's fingers

9.9

It happens very quickly

is instantaneous and effortless rather than merely rapid colloquial emphasis

in quick sticks

vsin the snap of someone's fingers

Archaic

9.9

Very quickly and in a hurry

is instant and effortless rather than hurried or hastily performed

Antonyms

slowly

∞ 1.0

At a low speed without hurrying

gradually

228 1.9

Slowly and steadily over time

How Fast

in the snap of someone's fingers

Informal

1 5.0

in the blink of an eye

Informal

24 3.3

quickly

∞ 1.0

slowly

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

in the snap of someone's fingers positive

Morphology

in + the + snap + of + someone's + finger

The meaning 'very quickly; in an instant' is partially derivable because a physical 'snap' made with one's fingers evokes an immediate, instantaneous event, so learners who know 'snap' and 'finger' can infer the sense. However, the expression is a metaphorical extension rather than a strictly compositional combination of the words, so some pragmatic inference or prior exposure is often needed.

Etymology

The idiom in the snap of someone's fingers comes from the quick action of a snap made with the fingers. The short sound and small movement happen in an instant, so the phrase means 'very quickly'.