it was lightning fast

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was lightning fast" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that happened very quickly or with great speed. Example: "The new software update was lightning fast, allowing users to complete tasks in half the time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"It was lightning fast compared to using the correspondent banking network Swift," the interbank messaging platform that connects more than 11,000 financial institutions today.

Forbes

I mean, it was lightning fast.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

It's lightning fast and scrolling is beautifully smooth via the screen or the etched-glass touchpad.

Independent

Itwas amazed by the Xoom's dual-core Tegra 2 processor.

TechCrunch

Now it's lightning fast, seemingly as fast as an Xperia X10.

TechCrunch

It's lightning fast, on both cellular and Wi-Fi, making at least this iPhone user long for a way to hack Siri to use Google's backend.

TechCrunch

If you aren't familiar with these development platforms, all you need to know is that data transfers and page updates occur without submitting and refreshing, it is lightning fast and there are NO client downloads to deal with.

TechCrunch

It's lightning fast, ultra-intuitive (turn on display, tap phone to reader. If you haven't punched in your PIN recently, do so and tap the phone again. You don't ever need to launch the app manually).

TechCrunch

It's lightning fast, and that's tough to replicate.

Huffington Post

The amazing part about this completely unconscious response is that it's lightning fast, faster than the time it takes us to consciously think about it.

Huffington Post

It's lightning fast, easy once you get a hang of the formation of search queries, and the results are good.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was lightning fast" when you want to emphasize the exceptional speed of an action or event. This phrase is more impactful than simply saying something was 'fast'.

Common error

Avoid using "it was lightning fast" repeatedly in your writing. Vary your descriptions of speed with alternative phrases like "it was incredibly quick" or "it happened in a flash" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was lightning fast" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe its speed. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is grammatically sound and highlights its use in conveying rapid action or movement.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was lightning fast" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to describe something happening very quickly. Ludwig confirms its validity and showcases examples primarily from news and media sources. While "it was lightning fast" isn't overly formal, it effectively communicates speed and impact. Consider varying your language with alternatives like "it was incredibly quick" or "it happened in a flash" to avoid repetition. It's a useful phrase for adding emphasis to descriptions of speed in various contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was incredibly quick

Emphasizes the high degree of speed.

it was extremely rapid

Highlights the swiftness of the action or process.

it happened in a flash

Focuses on the suddenness and speed of an event.

it was remarkably swift

Indicates an impressive level of speed.

it was surprisingly fast

Highlights the unexpected quickness of something.

it was unbelievably quick

Emphasizes the surprising or hard-to-believe nature of the speed.

it was super speedy

Uses a more informal term for fast.

it transpired rapidly

A more formal way of saying something happened quickly.

it occurred instantaneously

Stresses the immediate nature of the occurrence.

it moved at breakneck speed

Implies a dangerous or reckless level of speed.

FAQs

How can I use "it was lightning fast" in a sentence?

You can use "it was lightning fast" to describe the speed of an action or process. For example, "The software update "it was lightning fast", completing in just a few seconds".

What can I say instead of "it was lightning fast"?

You can use alternatives like "it was incredibly quick", "it was extremely rapid", or "it happened in a flash" depending on the context.

Is "it was lightning fast" a formal or informal expression?

"It was lightning fast" is generally considered an informal expression. In more formal writing, you might prefer alternatives like "it was remarkably swift" or "it transpired rapidly".

What's the difference between "it was lightning fast" and "it was fast"?

"It was lightning fast" emphasizes a higher degree of speed compared to simply saying "it was fast". The former implies exceptional quickness, while the latter is a more general statement about speed.