What Does “in a split second” mean?
Definition:
The phrase in a split second means in just a very short time.
Origin of in a split second
Literally, if something happens in a split second, it occurs in a fraction of a second.
The origin of the idiom goes back to about 1880. It refers to a stopwatch with two second hands, one above the other, used to time several athletes or racing intervals by a single athlete.
– a split-second decision.
– a split-second timing.
Synonyms
Similar idioms:
– in the blink of an eye
– in a heartbeat
– in the bat of an eye
– in no time
– in nothing flat
– as quick as a flash
– in a fraction of a second
Example(s)
Everything was calm. But just in a split second, a storm hit the whole region causing a lot of victims.
In a split second, the bomb exploded and everybody ran away from the area.
She got out of the house in a split second, running as fast as she could from the murderer.
With such a girl, in a split second, anything can happen!