At light speed
Meaning
Moving or occurring with extreme rapidity, almost instantaneously.
Origin
The concept of "light speed" as the ultimate cosmic velocity was firmly established in the early 20th century with Albert Einstein's theories of relativity. Once physicists demonstrated light's incredible, unwavering velocity—approximately 186,282 miles per second in a vacuum—the phrase rapidly entered popular culture. Fueled by science fiction that imagined spacecraft zipping across galaxies, "at light speed" became a vivid metaphor for anything happening with breathtaking, almost unimaginable swiftness, embodying the cutting edge of scientific understanding in everyday language.
Examples
- The new fiber optic internet connection downloads large files at light speed.
- After the starting gun fired, the Olympic sprinter burst from the blocks and ran at light speed towards the finish line.