En deux temps, trois mouvements

En 2 temps, 3 mouvements
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Informal French Expression

Meaning in double time, very quickly
Literally in two beats, three movements
Register informal
Pronunciation French sound file [a(n) deu ta(n) trwah moov(eu) ma(n)]
IPA   [ɑ̃ dø tɑ̃ tʀwa muv mɑ̃]

Usage notes: The French expression en deux temps, trois mouvements comes from music: temps refers to "beats" and mouvements indicates "motions" (though there’s an additional musical meaning of "tempo"). So a person creating three motions in just two beats would obviously be moving very quickly.

There are many ways to express this in English:

  • before you know it
  • in a jiffy
  • in double time
  • in no time
  • in the blink of an eye
  • like lightning
  • quick as a wink
     
    (old-fashioned)
  • before you can say "Jack Robinson"
  • in two shakes of a lamb’s tail

Par exemple…

Rédiger un rapport peut prendre des heures, mais aujourd’hui, en deux temps, trois mouvements, je l’ai fini. Writing a report can take hours, but today I fnished it in no time.
En deux temps, trois mouvements il a désarmé le voleur. He disarmed the thief in the blink of an eye.

Synonymous expressions

 Related lessons

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En deux temps trois mouvements

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