Interesting theories, all – but how did we get from Jack Robinson being someone who came and went quickly to “quick as you can say Jack Robinson”? Is it simply that we’re positing that our friend Jack was gone so quickly that he could barely be introduced? Or is there more to this etymology?
To ND Anthony:
The focal point is not saying the phrase, but the length of time it takes in saying it; consequently, the task can be completed in 1.2 seconds. “A New York minute.” In a “Finstant.” It is all about brevity.
I Just watched a movie called 42 which was about the first black man to play professional baseball. He was a fast man running from base to base. I was wondering if this saying could have come from this man?
Retroist:
December 6th, 2015 at 2:40 am
“Before you can say Jack Robinson,” meaning “quickly, in a very short time (or suddenly)” first appeared in print in 1778 …
1778 predates 1942 I do believe, so unless Jackie Robinson was a time traveler …
clark:
January 12th, 2020 at 10:19 am
Hey, thanks for the reference.
I trust there is still someone on the other side of the display… (well, no, it’s not weird to have a visual of an old CRT with, like cobwebs and at least a couple of big-assed dictionaries and, inexplicably, copies of Fanny Hill and Tom Sawyer.)
anyway, the work you put (present or past tense) is appreciated.
Martin Pook:
April 5th, 2020 at 5:15 pm
I did wonder how jack fitted with a ‘jack plane’, but thinking about it, it is the most useful general purpose plane. I’d long wondered about the derivation of Jack Robinson, and now I can carry on wondering!
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ND Anthony:
June 25th, 2012 at 6:37 pm
Interesting theories, all – but how did we get from Jack Robinson being someone who came and went quickly to “quick as you can say Jack Robinson”? Is it simply that we’re positing that our friend Jack was gone so quickly that he could barely be introduced? Or is there more to this etymology?
brandon shreve:
March 31st, 2013 at 1:24 pm
To ND Anthony:
The focal point is not saying the phrase, but the length of time it takes in saying it; consequently, the task can be completed in 1.2 seconds. “A New York minute.” In a “Finstant.” It is all about brevity.
sNiPel2:
July 9th, 2013 at 1:22 am
I Just watched a movie called 42 which was about the first black man to play professional baseball. He was a fast man running from base to base. I was wondering if this saying could have come from this man?
Retroist:
December 6th, 2015 at 2:40 am
“Before you can say Jack Robinson,” meaning “quickly, in a very short time (or suddenly)” first appeared in print in 1778 …
1778 predates 1942 I do believe, so unless Jackie Robinson was a time traveler …
clark:
January 12th, 2020 at 10:19 am
Hey, thanks for the reference.
I trust there is still someone on the other side of the display… (well, no, it’s not weird to have a visual of an old CRT with, like cobwebs and at least a couple of big-assed dictionaries and, inexplicably, copies of Fanny Hill and Tom Sawyer.)
anyway, the work you put (present or past tense) is appreciated.
Martin Pook:
April 5th, 2020 at 5:15 pm
I did wonder how jack fitted with a ‘jack plane’, but thinking about it, it is the most useful general purpose plane. I’d long wondered about the derivation of Jack Robinson, and now I can carry on wondering!