1. stubeard

    stubeard Active Member

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    A new way of writing something clichéd

    Discussion in 'Word Mechanics' started by stubeard, Aug 15, 2010.

    Hey everyone. It's probably because I'm tired but I'm having trouble thinking of a new way of describing a very short period of time having gone by, with nothing happening in it, especially when the time goes quicker than expected.

    At the moment, I have: "Soon enough [they finished whatever task it was]."
    Another option is: "Before long [they finished whatever task it was]."

    I just don't like those options. Anyone got any other ideas about how to say this without sounding so clichéd?
     
  2. mammamaia

    mammamaia nit-picker-in-chief Contributor

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    acceptable cliches:

    in no time at all
    in the blink of an eye
    before they knew it
    quick as a wink

    less cliched:

    little time seemed to have passed before they...
    in hours that seemed like minutes, they...
    before they realized it, they were done...

    see if you can't come up with some on your own, so you won't be writing by committee...
     
  3. Elgaisma

    Elgaisma Contributor Contributor

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    The task was completed quickly/at speed/without difficulty/quicker than expected

    They worked speedily completing the task in double quick time.
     
  4. Cogito

    Cogito Former Mod, Retired Supporter Contributor

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    What tone do you want? Folksy? Humorous? Slightly lewd? Whimsical? Literal and precise? Wry?

    Think what kinds of images you associate with a rapid finish in the tokne you decide upon. Stretch your imagination.

    Quicker'n a chipmunk's chirp.

    Faster than a hooker's blow job.

    Faster than (manager's name) believed possible.

    Faster than bad chili from bowl to bowl.
     
  5. Peerie Pict

    Peerie Pict Contributor Contributor

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    "In a matter of minutes...."

    "Moments later...."
     
  6. thewordsmith

    thewordsmith Contributor Contributor

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    THAT's a line for a MasterCard commercial ... PRICELESS!
     
  7. minstrel

    minstrel Leader of the Insquirrelgency Supporter Contributor

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    "Boom! Done!"
    "They were done in time to nip down to the pub and get a couple of pints of Guinness down before the boss checked on them."
    "They were done almost before they started."
    "They were done in thirty microseconds." (That was actually something my dad said a lot: "I'll be there in thirty microseconds!")
     
  8. 0---TY---0

    0---TY---0 New Member

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    You could just skip the bit of stating the task was finished by simply going to the end. Something similar to:

    "Alright, let's get to work!" Such'n'such said as they placed their hands on the counter, sleeves rolled up neatly.

    JoeSchmo smiled back at them, glancing down at the task before them.

    (Here, you can maybe go from chapter to chapter, or state something about the environment, or just observe one of the character's feelings, you have a good selection.)

    "Ahh, finally done! That felt like it took ages!" JoeSchmo breathed, falling backward into a nearby chair.

    ------

    Basically, you can pull something of a time lapse. The classic looking at the clock in a classroom bit you see on television. Or a music montage. Except that you draw the reader's eye away from what the two characters are doing, and pull it to something else. Then, you imply that while you were looking at this other thing, they were completing the task, and you simply just jump to the finished product.

    This could or could not be what your looking for, but I find it to be pretty effective.

    If this isn't exactly what you're looking for, I find everyone else has some good ideas. XD I personally like "Quick as a Wink" it just makes me chuckle for some reason.

    ~TY
     

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