jiffy

noun (a jiffy — informal)

«jiffy» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

Everyday

(informal) A jiffy is a very short time, a moment. tree →
(UK) A Jiffy bag is a padded envelope for posting things. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday talk, «I'll be back in a jiffy» means very soon. It is friendly, chatty language, more common with adults and in stories. Common phrases: «in a jiffy», «in half a jiffy», «just a jiffy», «Jiffy bag».

Examples

I'll be with you in a jiffy. tree →
Dinner will be ready in a jiffy. tree →
Just a jiffy — I need to find my shoes. tree →
The cake was gone in a jiffy. tree →
Mum posted the book in a Jiffy bag. tree →
The puppy was out of the door in a jiffy. tree →
In a jiffy he pounced upon it. tree →

Note

Used almost only in the phrase «in a jiffy». It is informal; in a formal essay write «very quickly» or «in a moment». «Jiffy bag» is a brand name, so it often has a capital J. Similar: «in a tick» (UK), «in a sec».

On Mova

Trees and pragmatics of «jiffy» in the school dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
«jiffy» in the school dictionary on Mova free.

This page in Markdown → https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/jiffy/