quick as lightning
Extremely quick.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“He finished his homework quick as lightning.”
“The waiter was quick as lightning and brought our drinks before we even finished ordering.”
“The seasoned athlete reacted quick as lightning, snatching the ball from the air before his opponent could even blink.”
Derived from a direct comparison to the physical speed of atmospheric electrical discharges. The expression entered common usage as an allusion to the extreme rapidity with which a flash of lightning occurs.
- 01
lightning fast
Extremely fast, fast as lightning.
- 02
lightning in a bottle
That which one seeks in attempting a difficult or challenging feat.
- 03
lightning strike
A (sometimes unofficial) strike by workers with little or no warning.
- 04
make quick work of
To accomplish a specified task easily and quickly.
- 05
quick as a flash
Extremely quick.
- 06
quick buck
A large sum of money earned easily and quickly.
- 07
quick off the mark
fast to act or react
- 08
quick on one's feet
sharp-witted.
Last updated August 10, 2026