Incredibly swiftly or speedily. The shoppers ran through the mall swift as deer in search of great deals. Swift as a deer, Mary finished her exam and raced out of the classroom. I'm not sure who that boy was. I couldn't get a good enough look at his face before he bolted out of our yard swift as a deer.

Incredibly swiftly or speedily. The karate expert had the would-be mugger unconscious on the ground as swift as an arrow. Swift as an arrow, Mary finished her exam and raced out of the classroom. The shoppers ran through the mall as swift as arrows in search of great deals.

Incredibly swiftly or speedily. The karate expert had the would-be mugger unconscious on the ground as swift as lightning. Swift as lightning, Mary finished her exam and raced out of the classroom. The shoppers ran through the mall as swift as lightning in search of great deals.

Incredibly swiftly or speedily. The karate expert had the would-be mugger unconscious on the ground as swift as the wind. Swift as the wind, Mary finished her exam and raced out of the classroom. The shoppers ran through the mall as swift as the wind in search of great deals.

Incredibly swiftly or speedily. A talented orator, the congressional candidate could speak as swift as thought itself. You must be swift as thought if you wish to make it there on time! I'm not sure who that boy was. I couldn't get a good enough look at his face before he bolted out of our yard swift as thought.

proverb Listen attentively and don't rush to speak. The phrase comes from the Bible. A: "It would really serve him well to be swift to hear, slow to speak." B: "I know, his mouth always seems to get him into trouble." The Bible encourages us all to be swift to hear, slow to speak, which is pretty good advice, honestly. Being swift to hear, slow to speak will serve you well in marriage, my dear.

proverb Our time in this life is very limited, so we should strive to enjoy it as much as we can. I know you think skydiving is reckless, but life is short, and it's something I've always wanted to do. If we did everything the doctors said, we'd do nothing but eat vegetables and exercise all day, every day—life is short and time is swift.

Fast, direct, and indisputable. The legislation provides consumers with a swift and sure method of protecting their privacy and personal data. The judge's decision in the case was swift and sure.

informal An alcoholic drink, commonly half the usual amount (i.e., a half-pint of beer), that is to be consumed quickly. Primarily heard in UK. A: "I can't go to the pub with you guys, I have to get home." B: "Oh, come on, just have a swift half!"

To subject (someone) to a malicious and false or misleading political smear campaign. A reference to the 2004 US presidential campaign of John Kerry, whose opponents challenged the legitimacy of his military record—which included four months as the commander of a swift boat in Vietnam. Primarily heard in US. Her political enemies have been continually embellishing and misconstruing her involvement with the controversial group as a way to swiftboat her during the final weeks of the election. They've swiftboated the senator with allegations of tax evasion, but he has so far managed to minimize the impact of their efforts.

The practice of subjecting a political candidate to a malicious and false or misleading political smear campaign. A reference to the 2004 US presidential campaign of John Kerry, whose opponents challenged the legitimacy of his military record—during which he spent four months as the commander of a swift boat in Vietnam. Primarily heard in US. These claims are false. They amount to nothing more than swiftboating, specifically designed to undermine my credibility in the final weeks of the election. They tried swiftboating the senator with allegations of tax evasion, but he has so far managed to minimize the impact of their efforts.

Prov. You should enjoy life as much as possible, because it does not last very long. Jill: Want to go to the movies with me? Jane: Oh, I don't know; I should probably stay at work and finish a few things. Jill: Come on, Jane, life is short and time is swift.

very quickly. (*Also: as ~.) As quick as a wink, the thief took the lady's purse. I'll finish this work quick as a flash. Quick as greased lightning, the thief stole my wallet.

fast and certain. (As with the flight of a well-aimed arrow.) The response of the governor to the criticism by the opposing party was swift and sure. The boxer's punch was swift and sure and resulted in a quick knockout and a very short match.

very fast. (*Also: as ~.) The new intercity train is swift as an arrow. You won't have to wait for me long; I'll be there, swift as thought.

Also, quick as a bunny or a flash . Very speedily, as in He was out of here quick as a wink, or She answered, quick as a bunny. These similes have largely replaced the earlier quick as lightning, although quick as a flash no doubt alludes to it (also see like greased lightning), and quick as thought, now obsolete. The bunny variant dates from the mid-1800s, the others from the late 1800s.