a blink of

USAGE SUMMARY

"a blink of" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe a very brief amount of time, such as "in a blink of an eye" or "within a blink of a moment". For example, you could say "I finished the exam in a blink of an eye."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That's a blink of the eye in evolutionary terms.

Harvard University

"It probably happened in a blink of an eye".

The New York Times

A blink of an eye, an eternity, one year.

The New York Times

As always very thoughful, humorous and explained with a blink of an eye.

University of California, Berkeley

"We're throwing changes at them... in a blink of an eye" in evolutionary terms, Glick said.

The Washington Post

"For a blink of any eye, I said, 'O.K., I've got one more.

The New York Times - Sports

It's a blink of an eye in the life of our children.

The Washington Post

Then, in what seemed like a blink of an eye, she disintegrated.

The New York Times - Health

In this day and age, politics seems to change in a blink of an eye.

The New Yorker

In a blink of a second, all the power goes out inexplicably all over the planet.

The New York Times - Arts

The United States held a hugely successful World Cup in 1994 — a blink of an eye.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a blink of" to emphasize the speed or suddenness of an event. For example, "Her career took off in a blink of an eye."

Common error

While acceptable in many contexts, overuse of the phrase "a blink of" in formal or scientific writing can diminish the seriousness or precision of the communication. Consider using more specific temporal indicators when accuracy is paramount.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a blink of" functions primarily as a modifier of time, often used within idioms like "a blink of an eye" to emphasize the brevity or suddenness of an event. Ludwig provides numerous examples of its usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a blink of" is a commonly used phrase to denote a very short period, most often found within the idiom "a blink of an eye". Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and acceptable in various contexts, although overuse in overly formal or scientific writing may diminish impact. Its usage is widespread in News & Media, while also appearing in Academia and other sources. When aiming for impact and simplicity, "a blink of" effectively captures the idea of an event transpiring almost instantaneously.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in the twinkling of an eye

Similar to "a blink of an eye" but with a more figurative and poetic tone.

in an instant

Emphasizes the immediacy and lack of delay, focusing on the action happening right away.

in a flash

Conveys suddenness and speed, highlighting the swiftness of the event.

in a split second

Emphasizes the extreme brevity of the time frame, breaking it down to its smallest unit.

in a heartbeat

Suggests something happening very quickly, almost without any perceptible delay.

in no time

Suggests that something happens quickly, with little or no delay involved.

momentarily

Indicates a very brief period, emphasizing the short duration.

almost immediately

Highlights the near-instantaneous nature of the occurrence, emphasizing the lack of delay.

before you knew it

Highlights the unexpected speed at which something happens, focusing on the surprise factor.

just like that

Implies ease and speed, suggesting that something happened effortlessly and quickly.

FAQs

How can I use "a blink of" in a sentence?

You can use "a blink of" to describe something that happens very quickly, such as "The opportunity disappeared in "a blink of an eye"" or "It all happened in "a blink of a moment"".

What's the difference between "a blink of an eye" and "a split second"?

Both phrases refer to very short periods of time, but "a blink of an eye" often emphasizes the suddenness or unexpectedness of an event, while "a split second" focuses on the extremely short duration itself.

Which is correct, "a blink of eye" or "a blink of an eye"?

"A blink of an eye" is the correct and commonly used form. "A blink of eye" is grammatically incorrect because "eye" needs the indefinite article "an" due to its vowel sound.

What are some alternatives to saying "a blink of an eye"?

You can use alternatives like "in an instant", "in a flash", or "in a heartbeat" to express a similar meaning.