# twinkling of an eye

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/twinkling-of-an-eye
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A short period of time.

## Examples

- The cat ran away in the twinkling of an eye.
- The magician finished his final trick in the twinkling of an eye, leaving the entire audience completely amazed.
- The storm clouds gathered and vanished in the twinkling of an eye, leaving the landscape quiet and still once again.

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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.