Would you like to use a phrase that indicates something is going to happen (or has happened) extremely fast? The expression 'New York Minute' is a popular way to say what you mean, and the expression is used almost all over the world. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression.
Meaning
The phrase 'New York Minute' is used in reference to the speed of something happening and means that something is going to happen (or has happened) extremely fast.
An explanation for the term 'New York Minute' is that the city of New York is famed for a supposedly extremely fast-paced lifestyle, and it is colloquially known as the “city that never sleeps” by many people.
Because of its fast-paced lifestyle that is supposedly compared to the perception of time in other parts of the United States, things that happen fast will thus take place ''in a New York Minute”.
The term 'New York Minute' or 'in a New York Minute' refers to the fact that something will happen fast.
Rarely, the term can be used in the negative as 'not in a New York Minute' although this use of the expression is considered to be much more common.
The phrase 'New York Minute' is considered common in most of the English-speaking world, though it is used less often outside of the United States.
Sometimes the term is partially abbreviated to 'NY Minute' instead.
Example Usage
“I told them they'd better have my coffee ready in a New York Minute, I was not going to wait another twenty minutes just to have a lukewarm latte.”
“If you're going to make a chicken casserole for dinner, then I'll sure be right over in a New York Minute.”
“According to my grandfather they had left the gas stove on, and when my grandmother struck a match she was gone in a New York Minute. It was just that fast and things were all over.”
“I'd rather have a New York Minute than an hour in Alabama.”
Origin
The exact first use of the term 'New York Minute' is something that is difficult to establish, but the estimated origin and early use of the term can be traced back to United States newspapers (like the Leavenworth Bulletin) all the way back to the 1870s.
According to some internet resources, the term 'New York minute' was first popularly listed in dictionaries from the late 1960s.
While this is difficult to confirm, some resources claim that the expression first came from Texas, where the slower pace of the state is compared to the “faster” pace of New York.
The phrase 'New York Minute' has become more common thanks to modern newspaper coverage, and mentions in popular culture.
Artist Don Henley has a song called “New York Minute”, and the term “New York Minute” was used in the video game franchise Max Payne to signify the hardest in-game difficulty level.
Phrases Similar to New York Minute
- In a flash
- In a hurry
Phrases Opposite to New York Minute
- A while
- An eternity
What is the Correct Saying?
- [happens in] a New York Minute
Ways People May Say New York Minute Incorrectly
There are several ways in which people might use the term 'New York Minute' in the wrong way, or misunderstand the use of the phrase.
'New York Minute' is a figurative expression, which means that something is going to happen (or has happened) extremely fast – e.g. much like the supposed quicker pace of New York.
The term 'New York Minute' therefore does not refer to an actual unit of time, but simply means fast.
Acceptable Ways to Phrase New York Minute
The correct way to phrase the term 'New York Minute' is to use it as a means to indicate something that is fast or quick (in relation to time).
Something that takes or is going to take a 'New York Minute' is assumed to be fast.
The negative, e.g. “not in a New York Minute” is rare, but also acceptable as a phrase to indicate that someone might wait a long time for something.