Green’s Dictionary of Slang

a very short time, usu. with in a..., meaning extremely quickly, at once.

1846		J.H. Ingraham Pierce Fenning 36: ‘Pull sharply.’ ‘Aye, Cap’n, we are there between two winks of a mole’s eye.’.
1851		Hornellsville Wkly Trib. (NY) 3 Dec. 2/3: A natural consequence fetched the whole eternal swarm of yellow-legged varmints about her ears, in less’n half a shake of a lamb’s tail.
1865		H. Kingsley Hillyars and Burtons (1870) 313: There’ll be high life below stairs with him in about two twists of a lamb’s tail.
1884		(con. c.1840) ‘Mark Twain’ Huckleberry Finn 348: Spos’n he can’t fix that leg in just three shakes of a sheep’s tail, as the saying is?
1886		Nebraska State Jrnl (Lincoln, NE) 30 Mar. 6/4: The dog [...] pounced down [...] and in half a shake of a dog’s tail it was captured.
1887		H. Frederic Seth’s Brother’s Wife 384: I’ll shaow him to yeh in th’ jerk of a lamb’s tail.
1896		Arizona Republic (Phoenix, AZ) 29 May 4/3: ‘I can give you the schedule in half a shake of a lamb’s tail’.
1901		Monroe & Northup ‘College Words and Phrases’ in DN II:iii 142: jerk of a lamb’s tail, n. phr. Very short time. ‘I’ll do it in three jerks of a lamb’s tail,’ i.e., very quickly.
1904		G.D. Chase ‘Cape Cod Dialect’ in DN II:vi 429: whisk of a lamb’s tail, n. phr. A very short time.
1905		J.W. Carr ‘Words from Northwest Arkansas’ in DN III:i 98: three shakes of a dead sheep’s tail, n. phr. A trice. ‘I can do that in three shakes of a dead sheep’s tail.’.
1906		C. M’Govern Sarjint Larry an’ Frinds 26: In two shakes of a dead lamb’s tail dey had Larry bound hand and foot.
1907		W.M. Raine Bucky O’Connor (1910) 240: I’m with you in the fling of a cow’s tail.
1907		W.M. Raine Wyoming (1908) 57: I made my getaway about three shakes too soon, by gum!
1908		A.N. Lyons Arthur’s 273: In less than two shakes of the mainbrace I shall fetch a rope’s-end to you.
1908		Magnet 20 June 15: You’ll get all the police you want in something less than two shakes of a sheep’s tail.
1909		L.W. Payne Jr ‘Word-List From East Alabama’ in DN III:v 381: three shakes (of a sheep’s tail), n. phr. A very short time, a trice.
1911		Gem 7 Oct. 13: You’ll have their spears about your ears in a shake of a lamb’s tail.
1915		Van Loan ‘The Spotted Sheep’ in Taking the Count 92: It’s all right, kid. We’ll have you fixed up in three shakes of a lamb’s tail.
1916		P. Kyne Cappy Ricks 248: I decided, in about two flips of a hummingbird’s tail, that it would be a mighty good thing.
1926		in J.F. Dobie Rainbow in Morning 91: I can do it in two shakes of a sheep’s tail. We’ll have it done in three shakes of a dead sheep’s tail.
1929		‘Ellery Queen’ Roman Hat Mystery 117: I’ll be there myself in two shakes of a lamb’s tail.
1934		Wodehouse Right Ho, Jeeves 169: In two shakes of a duck’s tail Gussie [...] will be distributing the prizes at Market Snodsbury Grammar School.
1935		J. Conroy World to Win 312: I’d better go for help! I’ll be back in three shakes of a dead lamb’s tail.
1935		C. Odets Awake and Sing! Act III: In two shakes of a lamb’s tail, we’ll start a real fight.
1950		A. Buckeridge Jennings Goes To School 157: The breakfast bell will be going in two shakes of a lamb’s tail.
1954		Wodehouse Jeeves and the Feudal Spirit 175: In about two shakes of a duck’s tail inspectors and sergeants would come scooping me up.
1960		G.W. Target Teachers (1962) 173: ‘Won’t be two shakes of a lamb’s what-you-call it,’ he said.
1961		‘Frank Richards’ Billy Bunter at Butlins 157: We’ll have you back in Camp in two shakes of a frog’s whisker!
1961		T. Williams Night of the Iguana Act II: I won’t be longer than three shakes of a lively sheep’s tail.
1963–74		B. Humphries Barry McKenzie [comic strip] in Complete Barry McKenzie (1988) 23: I’ll be with you in two shakes of a lamb’s arse.
1969		Kerouac letter 27 Aug. in Charters II (1999) 473: We used to get things done in two shakes of a lamb’s tail.
1975		(con. 1900s) G. Swarthout Shootist 233: He reached the corner in two jerks of a lamb’s tail.
1978		A. Maupin Tales of the City (1984) 40: I’ll be right back in two shakes of a lamb’s tail.
1988		McGill Dict. of Kiwi Sl. 116/1: two shakes of a dog’s hind leg give me a few seconds and I’ll be with you; variant two shakes of a dead lamb’s tail rather less basic.
1988		Viz Oct.–Nov. 12: We’ll have you down in two shakes of a gnat’s chuff!
1993		Tarantino & Avery Pulp Fiction [film script] 35: I’ll be out within three shakes of a lamb’s tail.
2003		McGill Reed Dict. of N.Z. Sl. [as cit. 1988].
2015		S. King Finders Keepers (2016) 160: I’ll be back with it in two shakes of a lamb’s tail.
2017		S.M. Jones August Snow [ebook] ‘What you do with your dick is your business, Mr. Atchison. I could give two shakes of a rat’s ass’.
2022		in D. Andrew Aussie Sl.