What Does The Idiom A Split Second Mean

What does the idiom 'in a split second 'mean? Discover the meaning of the idiom, its origin, and examples of sentences with this idiom. Definition: The phrase in a split second means in just a very short time. Literally, if something happens in a split second, it occurs in a fraction of a second. The origin of the idiom: 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. When the expression is hyphenated, it is used as an adjective and means quick: - 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