in two shakes | Idiomator

Meaning: (dated,idiomatic)Veryquickly; withoutdelay.1833,J. E. Alexander, chapter 18, inTransatlantic Sketches, volume I:by George! we would souse the Lords o' the Admiralty themselves, if they were here,in a couple of shakes1906,Edith Nesbit, chapter 2, inThe Railway Children:She tried to get the case open. . . . "I wish Father was here," said Phyllis; "he'd get it openin two shakes."1910,William MacLeod Raine, chapter 5, inA Texas Ranger:I'll have coffee readyin two shakes of a cow's tail.1922,Agatha Christie, chapter 19, inThe Secret Adversary:I'll be backin two shakes of a dog's tail.1922,P. G. Wodehouse, chapter 16, inRight Ho, Jeeves:In two shakes of a duck's tailGussie, with all that lapping about inside him, will be distributing the prizes at Market Snodsbury Grammar School.2005December 15, Adrian Higgins, “And All the Trimmings”, inWashington Post, pageH01:Skilled sheep shearers can get the wool off a ewein two shakes of a lamb's tail.

Examples:

EN: It'll be over in two shakes of a lamb's tail.
ES: Terminaremos en un abrir y cerrar de ojos.
EN: I'll have something for you to eat in two shakes of a lamb's tail.
ES: Prepararé algo de comer en menos que canta un gallo.
EN: Well, I'll be back in two shakes of a lamb's tail looking like a sheep in wolf's clothes.
ES: Volveré en un santiamén, como un cordero disfrazado de lobo.
EN: I'll be with you in two shakes of a cocktail.
ES: Estaré contigo en dos agitadas de un coctel.
EN: Well, i'll mosey along and be out in two shakes.
ES: Bueno, me voy. Sacaré mis cosas enseguida.
EN: Carried off in two shakes.
ES: , a la caja en un santiamén.
EN: You'd better get along with the carving. The rest of the things'll be here in two shakes.
ES: Empiece a encender las velas, ahora traeré lo demás.
EN: I'll be out of this submarine in two shakes.
ES: Estaré fuera de este submarino en dos segundos.
EN: Yes sir, I'll have that treasure up in two shakes of a lamb's tail. Believe me, I know how to shake a lamb's tail.
ES: Sí, señor, voy a encontrar ese tesoro, y le aseguro que sé como hacerlo.
EN: I'll be back in two shakes of a cocktail mixer.
ES: Volveré antes de lo que se agita un cóctel.
EN: I'll have you out in two shakes of a swizzle stick.
ES: Voy a sacarla de aquí en dos tiempos tres movimientos.
EN: They'll be at the dance studio in two shakes of a cat's tail.
ES: Estarán en el estudio de baile en dos movidas de cola de un gato.
EN: We'll eat in two shakes, and I'm sorry I kept my baby waiting so long.
ES: Comamos en dos tiempos, y lamento haber dejado a mi bebé esperando tanto tiempo.
EN: I'll be down in two shakes of a donkey's tail.
ES: Regresaré en menos de lo que canta un gallo.
EN: Be with you in two shakes, huh?
ES: Estaré contigo en 2 sacudidas.

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