IdiomDaily Life
English
Englishat the stroke of a pen
Meaning: By one quick official decision.
Example: “At the stroke of a pen, the tax was abolished.”
Origin: A single signature can create or cancel a law. The phrase is recorded from the 19th century.
Equivalents in other languages
Spanish: de un plumazo Literally: With a single feather stroke
More English idioms
- tread carefully To act with great caution in a delicate situation.
- pull the other one Said to someone telling an obvious lie.
- use someone as a cat's paw To get someone else to do one's dirty work.
- lose one's marbles To go crazy.
- luck out To have unexpected good luck.
- the heart of the matter The most important part of an issue.
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