on a dime

1. In a very small space, suddenly, as in That horse is so well trained it can turn on a dime. This expression alludes to the fact that the dime is the smallest-size U.S. coin. [Early 1900s]

Example Sentences

"Companies can't move on a dime; there are incentives to keep supply chains in place and it's extremely complicated and costly to change things."

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“The Creature could snap on a dime like an animal.”

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But it’s also what made Candy so beloved: As funny as he was, he could turn on a dime to remind us that even the grandest personalities are human at their core.

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He also has to be quick, flexible, and able to change direction on a dime while keeping his balance.

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There would be some friction involved, simply because it’s hard to shift suppliers on a dime without slowing down production.

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Related Words

• directly 
• immediately 
• instantaneously www.thesaurus.com
• right away