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Question:. . . to "in the wink of an eye", "in no time time at all" that would be appropriate for children under 7 years old and are not too cliche?


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: . . . to "in the wink of an eye", "in no time time at all" that would be appropriate for children under 7 years old and are not too cliche?

...in the melt of a snowflake

...before you can say, "Go!"

...faster than you can stick out your tongue

...as fast as a squirrel runs up a tree

...before you can blink

in a drop of a hat
in a second
immediately
instantly
in two shakes of lambs tail
right this minute

before you can say hickory dickory dock

in a flash

'before she could sneeze' ('sneeze' can be replaced with any other instantaneous and preferably involuntary action:- giggle / yawn / hiccup).

the 'she' should be harmonised with your main focus (eg 'he' if you are talking about a boy at this point in the story) and it helps if you can make the verb relevant in some way to the action.

eg.

the fairy flitted into the corner of the room - by the bedside table - and before miranda even had time to rub her eyes or pinch herself, it ....

'As quick as a lamb's tail'