wink

in the wink of an eye

So quickly as to seem almost imperceptible (i.e., in the space of time it takes a person to wink). And in the wink of an eye, the home team has taken total control of this match. Working on Wall Street, you get used to massive financial changes happening in the wink of an eye.

nudge nudge (wink wink)

spoken A phrase spoken after a statement which emphasizes or points out a euphemistic underlying meaning or innuendo. To be honest, we didn't see many sights on our vacation. We spent most of the time in bed, though there wasn't much sleeping, nudge nudge, wink wink!

wink wink (nudge nudge)

See also: wink

not get a wink of sleep

To not get any sleep. Our newborn son is rather colicky, so my wife and I haven't gotten a wink of sleep the last few nights.

twenty winks

A very brief nap or a short sleep. When you have a baby for the first time, you are suddenly forced to learn how to operate on only twenty winks at a time. I'm going to go grab a quick twenty winks before everyone starts arriving for the dinner party.

a nod is as good as a wink

A small sign is enough to a person who is ready to act. I'm prepared to start on this project once you all are ready, so a nod is as good as wink to get me going.

nod's as good as a wink

An acknowledgement of the true but hidden meaning of an expression or statement. Primarily heard in UK, Australia. Even though you said otherwise, I know you really have no interest in going out tonight—a nod's as good as a wink.

catch forty winks

and take forty winks; have forty winks

Fig. to take a nap; to get some sleep. I'll just catch forty winks before getting ready for the party. I think I'll go to bed and take forty winks. See you in the morning.

forty winks

Fig. a nap; some sleep. I could use forty winks before I have to get to work. I need forty winks before I get started again.

See also: forty, wink

in the twinkling of an eye

and in the wink of an eye

Fig. very quickly. In the twinkling of an eye, the deer had disappeared into the forest. I gave Bill ten dollars and, in the twinkling of an eye, he spent it.

See also: eye, of

nod is as good as a wink to a blind horse

Prov. You cannot get people to take a hint if they are determined not to. Jill: I keep hinting to the boss that I deserve a raise, but he doesn't seem to get the point. Jane: I'm not surprised. A nod's as good as a wink to a blind horse.

not sleep a wink

not to sleep at all. I couldn't sleep a wink last night. Ann hasn't been able to sleep a wink for a week.

*quick as a wink

and *quick as a flash; *quick as (greased) lightning; *swift as lightning

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.

wink at someone

to close one eye at a person as a sign of friendliness or flirtation. She winked at him and he was shocked. I hope she winks at me again.

See also: wink

wink at something

to pretend not to see something; to condone something wrong. (See also blink at something {2}.) The police officer winked at my failure to make a complete stop. I cannot wink at blatant infractions of the law!

See also: wink

wink something away

to blink the eyes to try to clear them of tears, dirt, etc. He looked up at me and tried to wink away his tears, but he was just too upset. Jane winked away her tears.

in the twinkling of an eye

very quickly This machine will do all the calculations in the twinkling of an eye.

See also: eye, of

not sleep a wink

to not sleep at all I was so excited about our trip that I didn't sleep a wink last night.

Usage notes: sometimes used in the forms not get a wink of sleep or not have a wink of sleep: Poor Henry didn't get a wink of sleep on the plane.

forty winks

(informal)

a short sleep during the day She just had time to put her feet up and catch forty winks before dinner.

See also: forty, wink

A nod's as good as a wink.

(British & Australian humorous)

something that you say when you have understood what was meant by something although it was not expressed in a direct way I know when I'm not wanted, so don't try to say anything more - a nod's as good as a wink.

as quick as a flash/wink

also as quick as lightning

if you do something as quick as a flash, you do it very quickly Quick as a flash, he snatched the book and ran out of the room.

tip somebody the wink

(British & Australian old-fashioned)

to secretly give someone a piece of information that will help them So if you hear of any jobs going in your department, just tip me the wink, would you?

in the twinkling of an eye

if something happens in the twinkling of an eye, it happens very quickly This machine will do all the calculations in the twinkling of an eye.

See also: eye, of

not sleep a wink

also not get a wink of sleep

to not sleep at all I was so excited last night - I didn't sleep a wink. I didn't get a wink of sleep on the plane.

See tip the wink

forty winks

A brief nap, as in There's just time for forty winks before we have to leave. This expression supposedly was first recorded in 1828 and relies on wink in the sense of "sleep," a usage dating from the 14th century.

See also: forty, wink

in the twinkling of an eye

In an instant, as in The breakup of Yugoslavia created many warring nations in the twinkling of an eye. This hyperbolic expression, which alludes to the very brief time it takes for an eye to blink, is heard less often today. [c. 1300]

See also: eye, of

quick as a wink

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.

sleep a wink, not

Not sleep at all, as in I couldn't sleep a wink last night. This expression, in which wink alludes to closing the eyes for sleep, was first recorded about 1325.

wink at

Deliberately overlook, pretend not to see, as in Sometimes it's wise to wink at a friend's shortcomings. This idiom, first recorded in 1537, uses wink in the sense of "close one's eyes."

See also: wink

wink at

1. To close and open the eyelid of one eye deliberately in order to convey a message, signal, or suggestion to someone: I knew she liked me when she winked at me.

2. To pretend not to see something; ignore something: The monarchy winked at corruption in the ministry.

See also: wink

wink out

To become quickly extinguished, especially following a weak burst of activity: The candle flickered and winked out. The street lamps winked out one by one.

forty winks

n. a nap; sleep. (Usually with a quantifier. Either forty or some, a few, a bunch of, etc.) I could use forty winks before I have to get to work.

See also: forty, wink

a wink of sleep

n. a bit of sleep; the smallest amount of sleep. (Usually in the negative.) I couldn’t get a wink of sleep because of the noise.

winks

n. some sleep. (see also forty winks.) I gotta have some winks. I’m pooped.

See also: wink

Common Names:

Name	Pronounced	Usage
Modest	-	Russian (Archaic)
Baldry	['bɔ:ldri]
Hege	HE-ge	Norwegian, Danish
Claes	KLAHS	Swedish
Ron	[rɔn]
Nanabozho	-	New World Mythology