kisap-mata
kisap-matá with stress marks
blink of an eye
Usage Note
Kisap-mata is a compound noun meaning an instant or a very brief moment — literally the duration of an eye-blink. It is frequently used in expressions of surprise at how quickly time passed or how sudden an event was, and carries a poetic quality common in Tagalog idioms.
Examples
" Natapos ito sa isang kisap-mata. "
Natural Translation
This was finished in the blink of an eye.
Literal Translation
Finished this in one blink-of-eye.
" Sa isang kisap-mata, nawala na siya. "
Natural Translation
In the blink of an eye, he/she was already gone.
Literal Translation
In one blink-of-eye, gone already he/she.
" Akala ko ay tatagal ang bakasyon, ngunit parang isang kisap-mata lamang at kailangan na naming umuwi. "
Natural Translation
I thought the vacation would last, but it felt like just a blink of an eye and we already had to go home.
Literal Translation
Thought I will-last the vacation, but like one blink-of-eye only and need already we go-home.
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