on the double

Idioms  

1. Very quickly, as in You'd better get here on the double. This expression, also put as at the double, came from the military, where it means “double time”—that is, marching twice as fast as normally. [Early 1800s]

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Example Sentences

AL batting leader Luis Arraez had two hits for Minnesota and scored on the double.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 29, 2022

There are considerable amounts of people, particularly on the double vaccination front, that are very sceptical about it, have not yet bought into it.

From BBC • Sep. 13, 2021

“I said, ‘Ooh, I play jazz on the double bass,’ and he thought I meant in an amateur way.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 10, 2021

That means the agility and dexterity required for pivoting on the double play are, quite simply, in less demand.

From New York Times • Jul. 14, 2021

He went inside, cleaned his teeth with a finger and some toothpaste from his tattered bag, fell on the double bed, and was asleep in a moment.

From "The Subtle Knife" by Philip Pullman