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Jack Robinson
Before you can say Jack Robinson. Immediately. Grose says that the
saying had its birth from a very volatile gentleman of that name, who
used to pay flying visits to his neighbours, and was no sooner
announced than he was off again; but the following couplet does not
confirm this derivation:
A warke it ys as easie to be done
As tys to saye Jacke! robys on.
An old Play, cited by Halliwell: Arch. Dict.
Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894 More on Jack Robinson from Infoplease:
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