This entry is about the noun in the fixed phrase "in a twinkling" or, more often, "in the twinkling of an eye" — meaning very fast, in a moment, before you can do anything about it. A twinkling is the tiny time it takes for something to flash, or for an eye to blink. So it is a way of measuring time by using something that takes almost none.

This entry is about the noun這個詞條講的是名詞 in the fixed phrase "in a twinkling"在固定用法「in a twinkling」裡 or, more often, "in the twinkling of an eye"或更常見的「in the twinkling of an eye」裡 — meaning very fast意思是非常快， in a moment一瞬間， before you can do anything about it快到你來不及反應。A twinkling一個twinkling指的是 the tiny time it takes for something to flash東西一閃那麼短的時間， or for an eye to blink或眼睛一眨的時間。So所以 it is a way of measuring time這是衡量時間的一種方式 by using something that takes almost none用幾乎不花時間的東西來。

Use it when a change is sudden and complete: "The money was gone in a twinkling." "In the twinkling of an eye the street was empty." It nearly always sits after "in", and it is not something you count — you do not say "two twinklings".

Use it當變化又快又徹底時使用 when a change is sudden and complete： "The money was gone in a twinkling."「錢一瞬間就沒了」 "In the twinkling of an eye the street was empty."「一眨眼街道就空了」 It nearly always sits after "in"它幾乎都跟在「in」後面， and it is not something you count而且不能拿來數 — you do not say "two twinklings"不會說「two twinklings」。

You should know how the phrase feels. It is old and a little literary. "In the twinkling of an eye" comes into everyday English from the Bible, where it describes how the dead will be changed at the last trumpet, and that grand, sudden feeling still clings to it. A modern speaker saying it in an ordinary conversation is being slightly playful or old-fashioned; the plain words are "in a second", "in no time", "in a flash".

You should know你應該知道 how the phrase feels這個說法給人的感覺。It is old它有點老派 and a little literary、偏文言。"In the twinkling of an eye"「in the twinkling of an eye」 comes into everyday English from the Bible這個日常說法源自聖經， where it describes how the dead will be changed at the last trumpet裡面描述末日號角響起時死者將被改變的那一刻， and that grand, sudden feeling still clings to it那種盛大、突然的感覺至今仍留在這個詞裡。A modern speaker saying it in an ordinary conversation現代人如果在普通對話裡這樣說 is being slightly playful or old-fashioned會顯得有點俏皮或老派； the plain words are平常講法是 "in a second"「in a second」、 "in no time"「in no time」、 "in a flash"「in a flash」。

Recognise it in books, in speeches and in older writing. Use it yourself only when you want that touch of the storyteller. The same word also works as an ordinary -ing form of the verb twinkle — "the twinkling lights of the harbour" — but that is a different job, and this entry is the time one.

Recognise it認得出來 in books在書裡、 in speeches演講裡、 and in older writing比較舊的文章裡。Use it yourself自己拿來用 only when you want that touch of the storyteller只有想要那種說書人的味道時。The same word also works as an ordinary -ing form of the verb twinkle同一個字也可以當作動詞twinkle普通的-ing形式 — "the twinkling lights of the harbour"像「the twinkling lights of the harbour（港邊閃爍的燈光）」 — but that is a different job但那是不同的用法， and this entry is the time one這個詞條講的是時間這個意思。