next to no time

USAGE SUMMARY

"next to no time" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use this phrase to indicate that something is done quickly or with very little time. For example, "I have completed the project in next to no time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

46 human-written examples

And they appeared in next to no time.

The Guardian - Books

"Much more fucking and they'll be screaming hysterics in next to no time," he wrote.

The New Yorker

They'll have Johnny Taliban quaking in his flip-flops in next to no time.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Spend all this money on silk and then give me next to no time to do my job.

The New Yorker

Luckily Fabien, the Alan Turing de ses jours, is on hand and solves it in next to no time.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

And somewhere in between lie the lung-busting, muscle-deadening runs of eight games in next to no time.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

14 human-written examples

In next-to-no-time the groundstaff are on and the court is covered in green gore-tex.

The Guardian - Sport

The swimming, fencing and field events arrived at the top of the sportscard in next-to-no-time and in these games we found success and failure, humour and disappointment, laughter and tears.

Wikipedia

One would think that her story and her reactions to Walter's newfound madness would be the primary one to focus on, but Meridith gets only a few brief moments to dominate and next-to-no-time to bare her soul (figuratively or literally) at her husband's destruction of the family they have raised.

Huffington Post

In fact, the story seems to be told in fast-forward, as though Sportello and the reader are being propelled from one clue to the next, with little-to-no time to sort out any of the details.

Huffington Post

Games had next to no loading times back then, so no sooner had my mum closed the door on her way out than I started the first level.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "next to no time" to emphasize the speed or efficiency with which something is accomplished, especially when highlighting a surprisingly short duration.

Common error

Avoid using "next to no time" when referring to tasks that inherently require significant time, as it can create unrealistic expectations or undermine the credibility of your statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "next to no time" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to indicate the duration of an action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it describes that something is done quickly. It expresses that an action or event happens with minimal time or effort.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Wiki

5%

Science

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "next to no time" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to convey that something happens very quickly or requires minimal duration. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase effectively emphasizes speed and efficiency. Predominantly found in News & Media sources, it holds a neutral register and can be used in various contexts to highlight the brevity of an action. For those seeking alternatives, phrases like "almost no time" or "in no time at all" provide similar connotations. When using "next to no time", ensure it aligns with the task's inherent time requirements to avoid creating unrealistic expectations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in no time at all

Adds "at all" for emphasis, highlighting the brevity of the time frame.

almost no time

Replaces "next to" with "almost", maintaining the core meaning of very little time.

very little time

Uses "very little" instead of "next to no", offering a more direct synonym.

hardly any time

Employs "hardly any" to express a similar sense of minimal time available.

scarcely any time

Substitutes "scarcely any" for "next to no", suggesting a barely sufficient amount of time.

in a jiffy

Offers an informal idiom meaning very quickly or in a short time.

in a flash

Uses a figurative expression to convey the idea of something happening instantaneously.

before you know it

Expresses that something will happen quickly and unexpectedly.

in a split second

Conveys a sense of extreme speed and immediacy.

momentarily

Implies that something will occur very soon or in a brief moment.

FAQs

How can I use "next to no time" in a sentence?

You can use "next to no time" to describe something that takes very little time to complete. For example, "The repair was surprisingly quick; it took "next to no time"."

What are some alternatives to saying "next to no time"?

Alternatives include "almost no time", "very little time", or "in no time at all". These phrases all convey the idea that something requires a minimal amount of time.

Is it correct to say "next to no time" or should I use a different phrase?

"Next to no time" is a correct and commonly used phrase. However, depending on the context, you might prefer a more formal alternative like "very little time".

What's the difference between "next to no time" and "in a short time"?

"Next to no time" emphasizes the extreme brevity of the duration, suggesting it's almost instantaneous. "In a short time" simply means it won't take long, but doesn't necessarily imply the same level of speed.