blink of time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "blink of time" is not commonly used in written English, but it can be understood.
It can be used to convey a very brief moment or instant, often in a poetic or figurative context. Example: "In the blink of time, everything changed, and we were left in shock."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

In a blink of time, a sliver of space opened between Philadelphia forward Joffrey Lupul and the Rangers' net.

The New York Times - Sports

For a blink of time, as we joined that vast army of women jugglers balancing love and work, it seemed inevitable that the group would never endure.

The New York Times

While the College of Natural Resources' 150-year history is a blink of time from an evolutionary perspective, CNR's land-grant mission has placed it at the forefront of agricultural genetic engineering since the beginning.

University of California, Berkeley

But those numbers are mute on matters of actual human experience; they have nothing to say about the blink of time in which a petite grieving mother registers as a threat, or an inebriated nineteen-year-old motorist intimidates a fifty-four-year-old man who has a shotgun.

The New Yorker

But it became intolerable when astronomers declared that the earth is but one of a hundred billion trillion other planets, and when geologists demonstrated that recorded history is but a blink of time -- a microsecond of the second of earth's existence.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The play would span half a century, leaping in "blinks of time" from the night when a giddy young Asch first shared his new play with his enamored wife to its run across Europe, its scandal on Broadway, and the fate of its Jewish actors in Nazi-occupied Poland, up to the day in 1952 when Asch finally disavowed it.

The New Yorker

All of this accomplished in a mere blink of Universal time.

Huffington Post

Those episodes include Rose, The Empty Child / The Doctor Dances, The Girl in the Fireplace, Blink, The End of Time, The Vampires of Venice, The Doctor's Wife, The Rings of Akhaten, The Day of the Doctor, and Listen.

The Guardian - Tech

The present study only dealt with spontaneous eyeblinks, since with the approach of blink time locked data it is possible to derive a good estimate of only blink-related activity.

Plosone

The patent says any of the lights can remain on for a period of time, blink on and off, or fade from bright to faint.

The New York Times

It was nothing, less than a blink, the smallest margin of time that can separate two competitors without the race being determined a draw.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "blink of time" when you want to emphasize how quickly something happens or how short a period is, especially when contrasting it with a larger timescale. For example, "Compared to the age of the universe, human history is just a "blink of time".

Common error

Avoid using "blink of time" excessively in formal or technical writing where precise language is preferred. In these contexts, consider using more direct alternatives like "brief period" or "instant".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "blink of time" functions as a noun phrase, typically used as an adverbial to modify a verb, indicating the speed or brevity of an action or event. Ludwig provides examples where it emphasizes the short duration relative to a larger context.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Blink of time" is a noun phrase that functions adverbially to denote a very short duration, similar to an "instant" or "split second". Ludwig indicates that the expression is grammatically correct. It's most commonly found in news and media, used to emphasize brevity, and carries a neutral, leaning slightly informal, tone. It is crucial to consider the context and your audience when choosing between "blink of time" and more direct alternatives, especially in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

brief instant

Combines "brief" to highlight how short the time is.

fleeting moment

Highlights the transient nature of the time period.

in an instant

Implies that an event happened immediately or suddenly.

split second

Emphasizes the extremely short duration, often used in contexts where timing is crucial.

quick moment

More casual way to describe a moment.

instant

Simplifies the phrase to a single word denoting a very short moment.

flash

Highlights the sudden and brief nature of the occurrence.

heartbeat

Uses a physiological analogy to convey a very short duration.

moment

A general term for a short period of time, less emphatic than "blink".

short while

Indicates a relatively small amount of time.

FAQs

What does "blink of time" mean?

The phrase "blink of time" refers to a very short period, similar to an "instant" or a "split second". It emphasizes the brevity of the duration.

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

You can use "blink of time" to describe events that happen very quickly or to highlight the insignificance of a duration compared to a larger scale. For example, "In the "blink of time", the opportunity vanished."

What are some alternatives to "blink of time"?

Alternatives include "instant", "split second", "fleeting moment", and "brief instant". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "blink of time" a formal or informal expression?

"Blink of time" leans towards a more descriptive and slightly informal style. For highly formal contexts, consider alternatives like "brief period" or "momentary duration".