quickie
C1Informal, Colloquial
Definition
Meaning
Something that is done quickly, with little time or effort spent.
1. A brief, hastily arranged sexual encounter (colloquial). 2. A brief alcoholic drink (colloquial). 3. Any short, expedited task or product (e.g., a quick tour, a quick-fix solution).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
While the core meaning is neutral (a short task), the most common modern use is slang for a brief sexual act. Context is crucial for disambiguation. Can carry connotations of being rushed, superficial, or satisfying only immediate needs.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in core meaning. Slightly more common in American English for the informal 'quickie divorce' or 'quickie mart' (convenience store).
Connotations
In both varieties, the primary, default connotation in isolation is sexual (slang). The neutral sense requires clear context ('a quickie tour').
Frequency
Comparatively frequent in informal speech in both varieties. The sexual sense dominates in corpus data.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
have + a + quickiegive + [someone] + a + quickiebe + just + a + quickieVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “wham, bam, thank you ma'am (vulgar synonym for sexual quickie)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used informally for a rushed meeting or deal ('Let's have a quickie before the conference'). Can be risky due to potential double entendre.
Academic
Avoided. Considered too informal and slangy.
Everyday
Common in informal speech, but users are often aware of the sexual connotation and may use euphemism or clear context.
Technical
Not used.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- They popped to the pub for a quickie.
- The mechanic did a quickie on the tyre.
American English
- They stopped at a quickie mart for snacks.
- He wanted a quickie before the meeting.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Let's grab a quickie lunch before the film.
- I'll just give the car a quickie wash.
- The journalist managed a quickie interview with the star.
- The proposed law is seen as just a quickie fix for a complex problem.
- The couple contemplated a quickie divorce in a foreign jurisdiction.
- The director's commentary was disappointingly brief – little more than a quickie.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'quick' task ending with the diminutive '-ie', suggesting it's small and fast, but potentially trivial.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A RESOURCE (to be saved/spent) / QUALITY IS DEPTH (a quickie lacks depth).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not directly translatable as 'быстрый' (quick) alone. The noun form carries specific informal/slang meanings.
- The sexual meaning is primary in modern slang. The neutral Russian 'перекус' (quick bite) or 'быстрый осмотр' (quick look) are safer but not direct translations.
- False friend with 'квики' – not a standard Russian word.
Common Mistakes
- Using it in formal writing.
- Using it without considering the listener's potential misinterpretation (especially the sexual meaning).
- Overusing as a synonym for any 'quick' thing.
Practice
Quiz
In contemporary informal English, what is the MOST LIKELY meaning of 'quickie' when used without specific context?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, but that is its dominant, default meaning in modern informal use. A neutral meaning (e.g., a quickie tour) requires unambiguous context.
No. It is considered informal slang and is inappropriate for academic or formal writing. Use terms like 'brief version', 'hurried attempt', or 'short session' instead.
'Quick' is a standard adjective. 'Quickie' is an informal noun, derived from 'quick', implying a specific instance of something done quickly, often with connotations of being rushed or less thorough.
Yes. Depending on context: 'briefing', 'crash course', 'whistle-stop tour', 'short session', 'rush job', 'speedy version'. These avoid the slang connotation.