The first uses of 'greased lightning' are from the early 19th century for example, the English newspaper, The Boston, Lincoln, Louth & Spalding Herald, published a story in January 1833, which included the text 'He spoke as quick as 'greased lightning''. All idioms have been editorially reviewed, and submitted idioms may have been edited for correctness and completeness. Before this, lightning had already been used to describe fast things, and greased was added as an intensifier. Can also be used as a laundry pre-treatment. Concentrated solution is strong enough to remove mildew stains, blood, ink and wine. Super-strength formula works great on bathroom tubs, showers, sinks, fiberglass and tile. Origin of Greased Lightning This expression was first used in an English newspaper in the year 1833 to describe someone who spoke very quickly. All-purpose cleaner for non-porous surfaces throughout your home. Country: International English Subject Area: Weather Usage Type: Both or All Words Used. This phrase is commonly used as a simile. (Indeed for example theres a pop song by that name - from the famous film 'Grease'.) (In that case its about a 50s hot-rod car. Incidentally, lightning bolts don't travel at the speed of light as one might imagine and their speed is variable depending on atmospheric conditions they are fingers of plasma rather than beams of light and their rate of transmission is considerably slower than that of light. Meaning: If something or someone moves like greased lightning, they move very fast indeed. begingroup Note that theres a common phrase in English 'greased lightning'. In the way that people were first 'mad' and those who were a little more mad were 'raving mad' and the more mad still were 'stark, raving mad', 'greased lightning' is meant to convey the meaning of 'very fast lightning'. 'Greased' is clearly an intensifier, a linguistic device ever since people first felt the need to exaggerate.

Il ghepardo può correre veloce come un fulmine per brevi distanze. A cheetah can move like greased lightning for short distances. Lightning was awarded its 'fast' meaning as early as the 17th century for example, Thomas Comber used it in the devotional text, A Companion to the Temple, 1676:Īttendants be bright as the Sun, quick as Lightning,Īnd powerful as Thunder what is He that is their figurative (thing: moves fast) (figurato: veloce) fulmine, lampo nm. It is, after all, a natural phenomenon known to everyone in the world, that is evidently rapid.Ī sure sign that something is considered to typify a particular property or characteristic is its use in an ' as X as Y' simile. Lightning has been synonymous with speed for many centuries. What's the origin of the phrase 'Greased lightning'? Similes What's the meaning of the phrase 'Greased lightning'?.

Greased lightning definition