Jack Robinson

[Alex Edge]

Can anyone give a source for the expression   " ....before you could say Jack Robinson ..." ?  Meaning, something or other had occurred unexpectedly quickly.
Best Wishes - Alex

[stanmapstone]

Francis Grose, in the 1811 edition of his 'Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue' says that the saying has its origin 'from a very volatile gentleman of that appelation, who would call on his neighbours, and be gone before his name could be announced'. The phrase was in use in the 18th century and is to be found in Fanny Burney's Evelina (1778).
From "Brewers Dictionary of Phrase & Fable"
You can also Google "before one can say Jack Robinson"
Stan

[Alex Edge]

Many thanks Stan. My brain hasn't got into the way of Googling.  When I need information it says Wiki.  I used your prompt to follow a couple of other idioms my mother used.  One was " not worth a tinker's curse " and, much more interesting, " all my eye and Peggy Martin ", turns out Peggy is limited to Cheshire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire and other parts use Betty Martin.  It has  a very old provenance but not one that all agree on, interesting none the less.

Alex