In a jiffy idiom meaning

Infinitive or -ing verb? Avoiding common mistakes with verb patterns 1. Add to word list Add to word list. I'll be with you in a jiffy.

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In a jiffy idiom meaning

Log In. My Account. Danielle McLeod. Danielle McLeod is a highly qualified secondary English Language Arts Instructor who brings a diverse educational background to her classroom. With degrees in science, English, and literacy, she has worked to create cross-curricular materials to bridge learning gaps and help students focus on effective writing and speech techniques. Currently working as a dual credit technical writing instructor at a Career and Technical Education Center, her curriculum development surrounds student focus on effective communication for future career choices. Idioms are words that have a figurative use separate from their literal use. Most idiomatic words and phrases are easily discernible due to their literal origins, but the word jiffy is a bit of an enigma. Jiffy means a quick amount of time, but it has no real origins that can be pinpointed. Instead, theories abound, and none are documented as proof. Regardless, the word has been in use since the 18th century. In a jiffy means in a moment.

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Jiffy has been used informally since at least to mean a very short time. No one knows where the word originally came from. Despite its lowly beginnings, jiffy gained a certain status in the 20th century as a unit of measurement in the scientific world. This trend started with American chemist Gilbert Newton Lewis in the first half of the 20th century. He suggested using the term jiffy to represent the time it takes for light to travel one centimetre—0. As you can see, a jiffy in scientific circles represents a very small unit of time indeed — the merest fraction of a second!

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In a jiffy idiom meaning

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Our new online dictionaries for schools provide a safe and appropriate environment for children. As you can see, a jiffy in scientific circles represents a very small unit of time indeed — the merest fraction of a second! Mandarin Chinese characters. Terms and conditions. Grammar English Easy Learning Grammar. Infused with humor. Get the latest news and gain access to exclusive updates and offers Sign me up. Word of the Year. Sign up for free and get access to exclusive content:. A bespoke episode of just 10 minutes per day to explore a language and its culture. Browse alphabetically in a jiffy. See more.

Consider these idioms and similes, all of which mean, more or less, 'instantly':. As fast as greased lightning As quick as a flash In a trice In two shakes of a lambs tail.

To top. Changes atmosphere in a jiff. Essential British English. February 19, Your feedback will be reviewed. Blossom Word Game You can make only 12 words. French grammar. Japanese to English. Idioms browser? Secondary School. Check out some others we covered:. English Dictionary. A jiffy is a small, indeterminate amount of time. Your method is unique! Jiffy is now also a recognized term of time value for various scientific measurements, such as the amount of time it takes for light to travel one centimeter in a vacuum, the duration of an alternating current power cycle, or the time between two ticks of the system timer interrupt in computing.