in two shakes of a lamb's tail
Meaning: Very quickly.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “Wait here; I'll be back in two shakes of a lamb's tail.”
Category: Animals
Origin: Lambs wag their tails very fast. The phrase is found in the 19th century; "in two shakes" alone is a little older.
Equivalents in other languages
- French: En cinq sec — literally: In five dry
- French: En deux coups de cuillère à pot — literally: In two strokes of the pot ladle
More idioms — Animals
- the bee's knees — Something or someone excellent.
- at a snail's pace — Very slowly.
- the lean years — A period of hardship and scarcity.
- worship the golden calf — To value money and wealth above everything.
- ants in one's pants — Restless, unable to sit still.
- blistering barnacles — A comic exclamation of surprise or anger.
More English idioms
- have a few tricks up one's sleeve — To have secret plans or resources in reserve.
- a Procrustean bed — A rigid standard forced on everything, whatever the damage.
- a Sisyphean task — An endless, futile task.
- so near and yet so far — Close to something one wants but unable to reach it.
- jam tomorrow — A promise of good things in the future that never arrive.
- a rolling stone gathers no moss — Someone who keeps moving never settles or accumulates anything; sometimes also, keeping a…
From our compliments & insults
- 目に入れても痛くない (Me ni irete mo itakunai) — Said of someone you adore completely, often a child or grandchild.
- Bête comme ses pieds — Really not very bright.
- Avoir un poil dans la main — To be incurably lazy.