ANSWERS: 9
  • This is a simple yes or no question but I'll embelish - No...and....How long is a Jiffy?
    • Linda Joy
      The earliest technical usage for jiffy was defined by Gilbert Newton Lewis (1875?1946). He proposed a unit of time called the "jiffy" which was equal to the time it takes light to travel one centimeter in a vacuum (approximately 33.3564 picoseconds).
    • Percussion
      So a person should have already arrived before he finishes saying "I'll be there in a jiffy"...correct?
    • Linda Joy
      correctamundo!
    • Percussion
      hahaha : )
  • It's not 'an actual unit' of time, it's just a phrase that means "a short amount of time", and of course, in use, people's ideas of what constitutes only a jiffy, varies widely (women 'can' get ready to go out in a jiffy / men can be done in a jiffy). It's somewhat useful, but not precise, so cannot be thought of as an actual unit (a unit being a scientifically precise standard amount). ............There are many such words which could be fun to consider too, for instance if you say A SMIDGEN, I know I'll be getting just a tiny sliver of cake, because you think Mr Floppy has become fat. (even though I keep telling you that's a vision problem, on your part)
    • Rick Myres
      All I have to do it look at food and gain 20 pounds.
    • Linda Joy
      The earliest technical usage for jiffy was defined by Gilbert Newton Lewis (1875?1946). He proposed a unit of time called the "jiffy" which was equal to the time it takes light to travel one centimeter in a vacuum (approximately 33.3564 picoseconds).
    • Mr PantsFellDown
      Ah, well that is interesting. Thank you.
    • Mr PantsFellDown
      It is after all easier to say "a jiffy", than have to say all of "(Just lay there honey, it will be over in) thirty-three point three five six four picoseconds."
    • Mr PantsFellDown
      Or "Hold on, I'll be back in just "a thirty-three point three five six four picoseconds length of time" lol
    • Linda Joy
      How about one one-hundredth of a second?
    • Rick Myres
      BTW my vision is affected by neurological too because of typing has light and dark spots. I notice also watching TV and the credits after a movie and closed caption. Life is fun :)
  • Made me think of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. And now I am hungry. Lol
  • The term has been used over the years to signify a very short time. Although it may have been proposed as a unit of time, long ago ... I don't believe it was actually or officially accepted as such. I don't remember it being taught in school, but I could be wrong.
    • Linda Joy
      One one hundredth of a second if Abby Sciuto says so it has to be true.
    • Ice man
      Someone's been watching too much NCIS again ... : )
    • mushroom
      Yes, 10ms in the computer sense, but even then there is no official measurement from NIST or BIPM or such. Same goes with a "tick."
    • Linda Joy
      No such thing Ice Man! Actually I re watch Psych more than NCIS.
  • no, i didnt know that
  • Why not? the twinkling of an eye has been measured at 1/300 of a second.
  • I'll be there in a jiffy.
    • mushroom
      Wait a minute!
    • Rick Myres
      Ooops you are too late. Lol :)
  • no, never heard of it
    • Rick Myres
      What?? You never had anyone to say "I'll be back in a jiffy" ?
  • Yep. We British use it instead of the American "just a sec!" malarkey.

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