brace of shakes
The term "brace of shakes" has origins in nautical language but is also used idiomatically to denote a very short period of time.
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Definition
C2Idiomatic Expression
(informal, archaic)A very short period of time; a moment.
Example
- I'll be back in a brace of shakes.
C2Nautical
(technical, archaic)The time it takes for a sail to shiver twice as a ship comes into the wind.
Example
- The captain ordered the crew to adjust the sails, and in a brace of shakes, they were set correctly.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "brace of shakes":