in like Flynn, phr. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

in like Flynn phr.

[the alleged sexual prowess of the actor Errol Flynn (1909–59); however, note Michael Quinion’s website World Wide Words 11/9/99: ‘Reference books almost universally assert that this set phrase, an American expression meaning to be successful emphatically or quickly, especially in regard to sexual seduction, refers to the Australian-born actor Errol Flynn [...] the phrase is said to have been coined following his acquittal in February 1943 for the statutory rape of a teenage girl. This seems to be supported by the date of the first example recorded, in AS in December 1946, which cited a 1945 use in the sense of something being done easily. The trouble with this explanation is that examples of obviously related expressions have now turned up from dates before Flynn’s trial. Barry Popik of the American Dialect Society found an example from 1940, as well as this from the sports section of the San Francisco Examiner of 8 February 1942: “Answer these questions correctly and your name is Flynn, meaning you’re in, provided you have two left feet and the written consent of your parents”. To judge from a newspaper reference he turned up from early 1943, the phrase could by then also be shortened to “I’m Flynn”, meaning “I’m in”. It’s suggested by some writers that the phrase really originated with another Flynn, Edward J Flynn – “Boss” Flynn – a campaign manager for the Democratic party during FDR’s presidency. Flynn’s machine in Chicago was so successful at winning elections that his candidates seemed to get into office automatically. The existence of the examples found by Mr Popik certainly suggest the expression was at first unconnected with Errol Flynn, but that it shifted its association when he became such a notorious figure’]

1. (orig. US) a dead certainty, esp. in areas of sexual conquest.

[1942		S.F. Examiner 8 Feb. 2/1: Answer these questions correctly and your name is Flynn, meaning you’re in, provided you have two left feet and the written consent of your parents].
[1943		S.F. Call-Bulletin 9 Feb. 7/5: Seems AS though my guess about the derivation of the phrase, ‘I’m Flynn’ wasn’t altogether correct. I said it meant one was all set, ready, fixed, etc. – and that’s right. But two correspondents [...] agree that it began with some such phrase as ‘Well, I’m in like Flynn.’ Finally, you were ‘in, Flynn.’ Now it’s just ‘I’m Flynn.’ The reverse of the phrase is not common, but it started with ‘I’m out like Stout,’ which was shortened to ‘out, Stout’ and is now ‘I’m Stout’ (meaning things aren’t so good)].
1949		I. Shulman Cry Tough! 209: ‘You’re in like Flynn,’ Larry said.
1953		W. Eyster Far from the Customary Skies 55: So I was in like Flynn.
1961		(con. early 1950s) J. Peacock Valhalla 53: When they find out you got the Silver Star you’ll be in like Flynn.
1968		A. Buzo Norm and Ahmed (1973) 24: Mention my name to the bloke on the door and you’ll be in like the proverbial Flynn.
1972		(con. c.1930) G. Sothern Georgia 259: ‘[W]hile you’re trying to figure it out, because most men do make passes, you find he’s suddenly in like Flynn’.
1975		‘P.B. Yuill’ Hazell and the Three-card Trick (1977) 19: As soon as he saw the chance of a five-carder he was in like Flynn.
1985		B. Humphries Traveller’s Tool 52: I’d reckon you’d be in like Flynn within half an hour.
1994		N. McCall Makes Me Wanna Holler (1995) 115: If you can write your name [...] you’re in like Flynn.
2004		Guardian Weekend 23 Oct. 20: The stock was up for grabs. [...] In like Flynn. ‘I’ll give you Xp in the pound,’ he said.

2. intimate with.

1994

T. Willocks Green River Rising 118: Claude was good to me, got me in like Flynn with Agry.

3. in ext. use of sense 1, to enjoy a very brief sexual relationship.

2010

K. Richards Life 100: The student teachers [...] were a randy bunch. Which we had very little time for. We were in an out like Flynn.