The phrase “before one can say Jack Robinson” means in a couple of shakes, two shakes of a lamb’s tail, or, in plain English, immediately, with no loss of time.
The expression arose during the latter part of the eighteenth century and, as far as anyone has been able to discover, it was no more than a meaningless phrase.
No “Jack Robinson” nor “John Robinson” attained any prominence at that period.
Related Posts
-
Where Did the Phrase “Before You Could Say Jack Robinson” Originate and What Does it Mean?
Jack Robinson was a London social climber during the early eighteenth century. He made it his business to appear at as many gatherings as possible, where he would often present his card and…
-
How did the Jack-in-the-box get its name and Where does the term Jack in the box come from?
Nowadays the name "Jack in the box" is usually applied to a toy, a box from which a frightening figure, such as a dragon, serpent, clown, or the like, springs out when the…
-
How did the “Jack-in-the-Pulpit” get its name and Where does the term Jack-in-the-Pulpit come from?
The American wildflower Jack-in-the-Pulpit, growing only in marshy woodlands, is unknown in some parts of the country. To anyone who has seen it in springtime, the cause of the name is obvious. The…
-
Who Invented Cracker Jack and How Did Cracker Jack Get Its Name?
Neither the popcorn nor the peanut is the Jack in Cracker Jack. F. W. Rueckheim was a German immigrant who'd made a name for himself in Chicago as a popcorn vendor. His little…
-
Why did Marie Antoinette say “Let them eat cake” days before the French Revolution?
The story suggests Marie Antoinette was not sympathetic to the hungry plight of the French population. As it's told, someone explained to Queen Marie Antoinette that the people had no bread and she…
-
What Did Civil War General John Sedgwick say About an Elephant Right Before he was Shot Dead?
Civil War General John Sedgwick didn't say anything about an elephant before he died. He was talking about the Confederate enemy's inability to hit a target, even a big one, like an elephant.…
