# quick as lightning

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/quick-as-lightning
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Extremely quick.

## Examples

- 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.

## Origin

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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.