English Idioms
Comprehensive resource for understanding and mastering English idioms
Before one can say Jack Robinson
Meaning
The idiom "before one can say Jack Robinson" is used to describe something that happens so quickly or unexpectedly that someone cannot react or respond before it has already happened. The phrase is often used to express surprise or shock, and it suggests that the event in question took place without any warning or preparation.
Usage
- She was so surprised by the news that she couldn't say a word before one could say Jack Robinson.
- Before we knew it, our flight had been delayed for three hours.
- The proposal caught me completely off guard; I hadn't even considered the possibility before one could say Jack Robinson.
- My boss announced our project was canceled just as I was about to take a sip of my coffee; I couldn't believe it before one could say Jack Robinson.
- We had planned to have a casual dinner with friends, but when we arrived at the restaurant, it was fully booked and there wasn't an empty seat in sight before one could say Jack Robinson.
Roots and History
The idiom "before one can say Jack Robinson" is thought to have originated in the early 20th century in the United States. The phrase likely became popular during a time when rapid technological advances and changes in communication methods made it possible for people to experience unexpected events with even greater speed than before. One of the earliest recorded uses of the idiom can be found in a poem by Edgar Allan Poe from 1845, which describes a sudden and unexpected change in weather: "Before I could say 'Jack Robinson,' / The wind blew fierce and felled me to the ground." Over time, the phrase has taken on a more general meaning, and it is now used to describe any sudden or unexpected event that takes place without warning.
Synonyms in English
- In the blink of an eye
- Before you can say "Jack Rabbit"
- Before one can even think
- Before anyone can react
- Without a moment's hesitation
Synonyms in other languages
- En moins de temps que vous aviez dit "Jack d'Orlando" (French)
- Pochmuchkiem do kogdy tamo bude (Russian)
- ق금이나 말할수없다(Korean)
- 전에 밝힐거예요 (Japanese)
- لايكرة بندى (Arabic)