quick as lightning

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "quick as lightning" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone or something that moves or acts very quickly. Example: "The athlete was quick as lightning, easily outrunning all of his competitors."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The Eifel hills are special because the weather can change there as quick as lightning".

The New York Times - Sports

Don't stand in front of me with fucking undershorts on and hit me, motherfucker.' Quick as lightning, she reached out with her finger claws and swiped at my father's dick.

The New Yorker

I still smile when I think of the skinflint behaviour the card evokes – of Aberdonians fleeing their homes before charitable tin-rattlers come knocking at the door, and then hurrying back again to avoid similar tin-rattlers, this time armed with tiny flags that, quick as lightning, they plunge into your lapel.

The Guardian - Opinion

Quick as lightning, Bob Woodward interjected: "You want me to rewrite it?" The quip evoked a scene in the 1976 film All the President's Men in which Woodward, played by Robert Redford, takes umbrage at Dustin Hoffman's Bernstein rewriting one of his stories.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

We find this out in a quick-as-lightning scene when he unloads decades of emotion on his wife.

The Guardian - Film

Perez, a switch-hitting outfielder with wit as quick as his lightning legs, has emerged as a surprising contributor to the no-longer-surprising Rays.

The New York Times - Sports

They were graphic, purple and obsessively interested in the particulars, as in this verse from 1910: The car came rushing down the line, The motorman saw him, but not in time, Then quick as a lightning flash, not long, Which hurled him into the great beyond.

The New York Times - Books

Farah was not quite as quick as the Lightning Bolt down the home straight in the 5,000m final yesterday, although in gritting his teeth, digging deep and coming up with a distance runner's sprint, the 28-year-old Londoner succeeded in achieving what he had failed to accomplish in the 10,000m the previous Sunday.

Independent

It's quick like lightning, as proven by its BrowserMark score of 28769.

TechCrunch

He had a jump shot with a release the NBA lauded as "lightning quick", and was known for making baskets late in the game, earning him the nickname "Mr. Clutch".

Wikipedia

In the most terrible and nimble stroke Of quick, cross lightning?

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "quick as lightning" to vividly describe actions or events that occur with exceptional speed and suddenness. It is most effective when emphasizing the unexpected nature of the speed.

Common error

Avoid using "quick as lightning" to describe processes that are inherently slow or gradual. This creates a jarring incongruity and weakens the description.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "quick as lightning" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to describe the manner in which an action is performed. As Ludwig AI suggests, it emphasizes speed and suddenness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "quick as lightning" is a vivid idiom used to describe something exceptionally fast or sudden. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and notes its use primarily in news and media contexts. While not exceptionally frequent, it effectively conveys the intended meaning and enhances descriptions by adding a memorable image of speed and suddenness. For alternative phrasing, consider "fast as a flash" or "in the blink of an eye" to achieve a similar effect.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as quick as a flash

Replaces "lightning" with "flash", maintaining the sudden and brief comparison.

as fast as a thunderbolt

Replaces "lightning" with "thunderbolt" maintaining the natural phenomenon comparison for speed.

with the speed of light

Emphasizes speed, referencing light.

in the blink of an eye

Shifts from a natural phenomenon to a human action to illustrate speed.

swiftly and suddenly

Combines both speed and the unexpected nature of the action.

at breakneck speed

Emphasizes the dangerous speed of the action or object.

with meteoric swiftness

Uses "meteoric" to suggest both speed and brilliance.

at warp speed

Implies extreme speed, often used in science fiction contexts.

instantaneously

Conveys the idea of happening without any delay.

with rapid-fire pace

Uses the imagery of rapid gunfire to suggest quick succession.

FAQs

What does "quick as lightning" mean?

The phrase "quick as lightning" means extremely fast or sudden, like a flash of lightning.

What's a similar phrase to "quick as lightning"?

Similar phrases include "fast as a flash", "in the blink of an eye", or "at breakneck speed".

Is "quick as lightning" an idiom?

Yes, "quick as lightning" is an idiom used to describe something that happens very rapidly.

How can I use "quick as lightning" in a sentence?

You can use "quick as lightning" to describe the speed of an action, for example: "Her response was quick as lightning, she immediately knew the answer".