blink

Universal Words verb, noun verb 1 when you blink or blink your eyes or your eyes blink, you shut and open your eyes quickly: [V] He blinked in the bright sunlight. * Lucy blinked at him in astonishment. * I'll be back before you can blink (= very quickly). * When I told him the news he didn't even blink (= showed no surprise at all). [also VN] compareWINK 2 [V] to shine with an unsteady light; to flash on and off: Suddenly a warning light blinked. PHRASALVERBS blink sth<->away / back to try to control tears or clear your eyes by blinking: She bravely blinked back her tears. noun [usuallysing.] the act of shutting and opening your eyes very quickly IDIOMS in the blink of an eye very quickly; in a short time on the blink (informal) (of a machine) no longer working correctly