quick and dirty
Meaning
Describes a solution, method, or approach that is done rapidly and efficiently, often at the expense of thoroughness, refinement, or aesthetics.
Origin
The phrase "quick and dirty" emerged from the practical, no-nonsense worlds of engineering and early computer programming, where functionality often trumped perfection. Imagine a team under immense pressure, needing to get a system operational yesterday. They couldn't afford the luxury of endless refinement or meticulous detail. Instead, they’d cobble together a solution that worked—quickly—even if it was a bit unpolished, crude, or, well, "dirty" in its execution. This wasn't about laziness; it was a strategic trade-off, valuing speed and immediate utility to solve a pressing problem, establishing the phrase as the go-to description for any expedient, yet effective, fix.
Examples
- We needed a prototype by Friday, so the team came up with a quick and dirty version just to demonstrate the core functionality.
- Rather than spending hours on a polished report, I put together a quick and dirty summary to give them the essential information.