Idioms are like the secret code of language. They give us colorful ways to describe things, and they often don’t mean exactly what the words say.
In this article, we’re diving into idioms for fast—phrases that help us express speed and swiftness in a fun and unique way.
So, let’s get started with these idiomatic expressions that’ll have you zooming along in no time!
What is an idiom for fast?
Idioms are like little puzzles for your brain. They use words in ways that might seem strange at first, but they paint a vivid picture of a situation or action.
When we say someone is “fast as lightning,” we’re not talking about their ability to generate electricity. We’re saying they’re incredibly quick!
Now, let’s explore some idioms for fast and understand what they mean:
Idiom | Meaning | Example Sentence |
---|---|---|
In the fast lane | To live a fast-paced, exciting life. | Ever since he moved to the city, he’s been living life in the fast lane, always on the go. |
Fast as lightning | Extremely quick or speedy. | Her response to the question was as fast as lightning; she didn’t even need to think. |
Quick as a wink | Happening in an instant, without delay. | He finished his homework quick as a wink and then went out to play. |
Faster than a speeding bullet | Incredibly fast, like a superhero in a comic book. | The car raced down the highway faster than a speeding bullet. |
Speed demon | Someone who loves to drive fast or do things quickly. | Dave’s always been a speed demon on the skateboard, doing tricks that amaze us. |
Greased lightning | Extremely fast and smooth. | With the new computer, tasks at the office are completed like greased lightning. |
Like a bat out of hell | To move or act with great speed and urgency. | When the fire alarm went off, everyone evacuated the building like a bat out of hell. |
On the fast track | In a position or situation that leads to quick success. | After graduating with honors, she’s on the fast track to a successful career. |
Like a whirlwind | To do something quickly and energetically, often leaving a trail of chaos. | She cleaned the entire house like a whirlwind before the guests arrived. |
Zooming along | Moving rapidly and smoothly. | The bicycle zoomed along the winding path, making it a thrilling ride. |
Like a rocket | To move or progress very quickly. | After the team implemented the new software, productivity took off like a rocket. |
Like a bullet train | To move at an incredibly high speed. | The new sports car accelerates like a bullet train, leaving others behind. |
In the blink of an eye | Happening so quickly that it’s almost imperceptible. | The magician made the rabbit disappear in the blink of an eye. |
Swift as a deer | Moving gracefully and quickly. | The athlete ran the marathon, swift as a deer, and finished first. |
Speeding like a maniac | Driving recklessly and excessively fast. | The police officer pulled over the driver for speeding like a maniac on the highway. |
Rapid as a cheetah | Moving with the incredible speed of a cheetah. | The internet connection in the new office is as rapid as a cheetah, making downloads lightning fast. |
Like a tornado | Moving or acting with great speed and causing chaos. | When he enters a room, it’s like a tornado of energy and excitement. |
Quick as a hiccup | Happening so quickly that it’s almost unnoticeable. | She solved the math problem, quick as a hiccup, surprising everyone. |
Quick as a fox | Very clever and able to think and act quickly. | Jack is quick as a fox when it comes to solving puzzles. |
Like a jackrabbit | To move with sudden speed and agility. | When the alarm went off, everyone left the building like a jackrabbit. |
Like a runaway train | Out of control and moving at a very high speed. | The project turned into a disaster, running like a runaway train. |
Fast and furious | Moving or happening rapidly and with great intensity. | The storm hit the coast fast and furious, causing significant damage. |
At the speed of sound | Moving as fast as the sound travels through the air. | The car reached its top speed and was now traveling at the speed of sound. |
Like a racehorse | To move or perform with incredible speed and energy. | The athlete sprinted across the finish line like a racehorse. |
Running like the wind | Running at a very high speed, often effortlessly. | She’s an excellent sprinter; she was running like the wind during the race. |
Like a hot knife through butter | To cut through something easily and swiftly. | With the new chef’s knife, slicing vegetables is like a hot knife through butter. |
Like a shot | To move or act very quickly. | As soon as the bell rang, he left the classroom like a shot. |
Speeding like a bullet train, he dashed across the finish line. If you’re looking for more comparisons to describe something as fast, you can click on this link: Similes for fast. And for a variety of metaphors depicting speed, you can explore this link: Metaphors for fast.
Idioms for Fast
1. In the fast lane
Meaning: To live a fast-paced, exciting life.
In a Sentence: Ever since he moved to the city, he’s been living life in the fast lane, always on the go.
2. Fast as lightning
Meaning: Extremely quick or speedy.
In a Sentence: Her response to the question was as fast as lightning; she didn’t even need to think.
3. Quick as a wink
Meaning: Happening in an instant, without delay.
In a Sentence: He finished his homework quick as a wink and then went out to play.
4. Faster than a speeding bullet
Meaning: Incredibly fast, like a superhero in a comic book.
In a Sentence: The car raced down the highway faster than a speeding bullet.
5. Speed demon
Meaning: Someone who loves to drive fast or do things quickly.
In a Sentence: Dave’s always been a speed demon on the skateboard, doing tricks that amaze us.
6. Greased lightning
Meaning: Extremely fast and smooth.
In a Sentence: With the new computer, tasks at the office are completed like greased lightning.
7. Like a bat out of hell
Meaning: To move or act with great speed and urgency.
In a Sentence: When the fire alarm went off, everyone evacuated the building like a bat out of hell.
8. On the fast track
Meaning: In a position or situation that leads to quick success.
In a Sentence: After graduating with honors, she’s on the fast track to a successful career.
9. Like a whirlwind
Meaning: To do something quickly and energetically, often leaving a trail of chaos.
In a Sentence: She cleaned the entire house like a whirlwind before the guests arrived.
10. Zooming along
Meaning: Moving rapidly and smoothly.
In a Sentence: The bicycle zoomed along the winding path, making it a thrilling ride.
11. Like a rocket
Meaning: To move or progress very quickly.
In a Sentence: After the team implemented the new software, productivity took off like a rocket.
12. Like a bullet train
Meaning: To move at an incredibly high speed.
In a Sentence: The new sports car accelerates like a bullet train, leaving others behind.
13. In the blink of an eye
Meaning: Happening so quickly that it’s almost imperceptible.
In a Sentence: The magician made the rabbit disappear in the blink of an eye.
14. Swift as a deer
Meaning: Moving gracefully and quickly.
In a Sentence: The athlete ran the marathon, swift as a deer, and finished first.
15. Speeding like a maniac
Meaning: Driving recklessly and excessively fast.
In a Sentence: The police officer pulled over the driver for speeding like a maniac on the highway.
16. Rapid as a cheetah
Meaning: Moving with the incredible speed of a cheetah.
In a Sentence: The internet connection in the new office is as rapid as a cheetah, making downloads lightning fast.
17. Like a tornado
Meaning: Moving or acting with great speed and causing chaos.
In a Sentence: When he enters a room, it’s like a tornado of energy and excitement.
18. Quick as a hiccup
Meaning: Happening so quickly that it’s almost unnoticeable.
In a Sentence: She solved the math problem, quick as a hiccup, surprising everyone.
19. Quick as a fox
Meaning: Very clever and able to think and act quickly.
In a Sentence: Jack is quick as a fox when it comes to solving puzzles.
20. Like a jackrabbit
Meaning: To move with sudden speed and agility.
In a Sentence: When the alarm went off, everyone left the building like a jackrabbit.
21. Like a runaway train
Meaning: Out of control and moving at a very high speed.
In a Sentence: The project turned into a disaster, running like a runaway train.
22. Fast and furious
Meaning: Moving or happening rapidly and with great intensity.
In a Sentence: The storm hit the coast fast and furious, causing significant damage.
23. At the speed of sound
Meaning: Moving as fast as the sound travels through the air.
In a Sentence: The car reached its top speed and was now traveling at the speed of sound.
24. Like a racehorse
Meaning: To move or perform with incredible speed and energy.
In a Sentence: The athlete sprinted across the finish line like a racehorse.
25. Running like the wind
Meaning: Running at a very high speed, often effortlessly.
In a Sentence: She’s an excellent sprinter; she was running like the wind during the race.
26. Like a hot knife through butter
Meaning: To cut through something easily and swiftly.
In a Sentence: With the new chef’s knife, slicing vegetables is like a hot knife through butter.
27. Like a shot
Meaning: To move or act very quickly.
In a Sentence: As soon as the bell rang, he left the classroom like a shot.
Quizzes About The Idioms in The Article
Quiz 1:
Question: What does the idiom “In the fast lane” mean?
- To drive in the left lane on a highway.
- To live a slow-paced life.
- To live a fast-paced, exciting life.
Answer: 3. To live a fast-paced, exciting life.
Quiz 2:
Question: What is the meaning of the idiom “Quick as a wink”?
- To blink your eyes quickly.
- To happen instantly, without delay.
- To slowly close your eyes before sleeping.
Answer: 2. To happen instantly, without delay.
Quiz 3:
Question: What does “Greased lightning” imply in the context of the idiom?
- Extremely fast and smooth.
- A source of energy.
- Something slippery.
Answer: 1. Extremely fast and smooth.
Quiz 4:
Question: When someone is described as “Like a bat out of hell,” what does it mean?
- They are as fast as a bat.
- They move or act with great speed and urgency.
- They are afraid of bats.
Answer: 2. They move or act with great speed and urgency.
Quiz 5:
Question: What does the idiom “On the fast track” suggest?
- Being on a train that moves quickly.
- Being in a position that leads to quick success.
- Being stuck in traffic.
Answer: 2. Being in a position that leads to quick success.
Quiz 6:
Question: How is the idiom “Like a whirlwind” typically used?
- To describe a type of weather phenomenon.
- To do something quickly and energetically, often leaving a trail of chaos.
- To describe a peaceful and calm environment.
Answer: 2. To do something quickly and energetically, often leaving a trail of chaos.
Quiz 7:
Question: What does “In the blink of an eye” mean in the context of the idiom?
- In the time it takes to blink your eyes.
- Happening so quickly that it’s almost imperceptible.
- In a slow and gradual manner.
Answer: 2. Happening so quickly that it’s almost imperceptible.
Quiz 8:
Question: How is the idiom “Like a jackrabbit” typically used?
- To describe someone who is jumpy.
- To move with sudden speed and agility.
- To describe someone who is slow and clumsy.
Answer: 2. To move with sudden speed and agility.
Quiz 9:
Question: What does “Fast and furious” imply in the context of the idiom?
- To be in a hurry.
- Moving or happening rapidly and with great intensity.
- To be angry and impatient.
Answer: 2. Moving or happening rapidly and with great intensity.
Quiz 10:
Question: What is the meaning of “Like a shot” in the idiom?
- To move quickly like a gunshot.
- To take a shot of alcohol.
- To move or act very quickly.
Answer: 3. To move or act very quickly.
Conclusion
Idioms for fast add zest to our language by describing speed and swiftness in unique and creative ways. These expressions are like shortcuts to understanding, helping us paint vivid mental pictures of events and actions happening quickly.