How long is a jiffy? | | What is a jiffy? Explore the precise scientific definitions behind this common time-related idiom. | |  | Bennett Kleinman |
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| |  | | "I 'll see you soon." "We'll be there in a few." "Be right there!" All of these are vague promises that you'll be arriving at a particular place in a short period of time, but one similar phrase, "be there in a jiffy," isn't quite so vague. It's been adopted as an idiomatic phrase that implies you'll be there shortly, but "jiffy" actually refers to a defined period of time.
A jiffy is a concrete, measurable unit (that still varies, depending on the context). Some scientists use "jiffy" to denote a very, very tiny amount of time. To physicists, a jiffy is how long it takes for light to travel one femtometer (a millionth of a millionth of a millimeter). Femtometers are used to measure things smaller than an atom, so you can imagine how short a jiffy is. In electrical contexts, "jiffy" is used to measure the length of a single cycle of alternating current, where one jiffy equals 17 milliseconds. In computer science, "jiffy" is a variable term, equaling anywhere from one to 10 milliseconds. |
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Emoji Decoded | |  | | Ghost | | | Meaning: Represents a cartoon ghost, often used to convey spookiness, Halloween themes, or playful scares.
Evolution: With widespread usage beyond Halloween, the Ghost emoji has become shorthand for "ghosting" in dating contexts, and it's popular in Gen Z humor for its whimsical, nonthreatening appearance.
Usage: [Caption on a selfie with a face mask:] Self-care Sunday, feeling like Casper 👻✨ |
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| | Ghost | | | Meaning: Represents a cartoon ghost, often used to convey spookiness, Halloween themes, or playful scares.
Evolution: With widespread usage beyond Halloween, the Ghost emoji has become shorthand for "ghosting" in dating contexts, and it's popular in Gen Z humor for its whimsical, nonthreatening appearance.
Usage: [Caption on a selfie with a face mask:] Self-care Sunday, feeling like Casper 👻✨ |
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Have you read? | |  | | The Future Saints | | By Ashley Winstead | | The Future Saints is a rock band that might be on the verge of making it big. Or they might totally collapse as lead singer Hannah starts to unravel. An ambitious recording studio executive accepts the assignment to turn things around as their new manager, putting the "Suit" and the "Talent" at odds. As the characters seek balance between commercial success and artistic merit, the story includes glimpses of what the audience (and the tabloids) have to say about them on social media. | | | | Samantha Abernethy, Word Smarts Writer | | | | We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. |
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| | The Future Saints | | By Ashley Winstead | | The Future Saints is a rock band that might be on the verge of making it big. Or they might totally collapse as lead singer Hannah starts to unravel. An ambitious recording studio executive accepts the assignment to turn things around as their new manager, putting the "Suit" and the "Talent" at odds. As the characters seek balance between commercial success and artistic merit, the story includes glimpses of what the audience (and the tabloids) have to say about them on social media. | | | | Samantha Abernethy, Word Smarts Writer | | | | We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. |
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You might also like | |  | | | | Are You Using 'Begs the Question' Wrong? | | "Begs the question" is a common phrase to introduce a follow-up question, but it's technically incorrect. The mix-up is the result of a translation rooted in philosophy. |
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