Green’s Dictionary of Slang

Jack Robinson n.

In phrases

before one can say Jack Robinson (also as fast as Jack Robinson, before one could say Jack Robinson, while one could say..., quicker than one can say..., before one could say Jack Robertson, ...Jock Robinson, ...John Robinson, …Uncle Dick) [there is no specific Jack Robinson; perhaps it was a minor tongue-twister; note Grose (1785) suggests a real ‘Jack Robinson’]

instantly, at once, very quickly.

1785, 1788, 1796		Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Jack Robinson, before one could say Jack Robinson, a saying to express a very short time, originating from a very volatile gentleman of that appellation, who would call on his neighbours, and be gone before his name could be announced.
1811		Lex. Balatronicum [as cit. 1785].
1816		M. Lewis 4 Jan. in Journal of a West India Proprietor (1834) 67: A few John-Crows – a species of vulture [...] gobbles it up before you can say ‘John Crow,’ much less ‘Jack Robinson’.
1825		Comical Hist. of the King and the Cobbler 35: For Lord’s sake, prime the gun [...] or our throats will be cut frae lug to lug before we can cry Jack Robinson!
1825		J.K. Paulding John Bull in America 121: I was brought up the very next day, tried, sentenced, and accommodated for three years in the State Prison, before I could say Jack Robinson.
1827		London Standard 3 July 1/1: Nosey was ower quick for him, and [...] he lichted on a shelf before ane could say Jock Robinson.
1836		T. Haliburton Clockmaker I 180: They’ll [...] whip you right into a mad house, afore you can say Jack Robinson.
1837		R.M. Bird Nick of the Woods I 24: I killed two of the red niggurs, before you could say Jack Robinson.
1838		Crim.-Con. Gaz 1 Sept. 16/1: He found himself at tha [sic] retreat before he could say ‘Jack Robinson’ to use a Cockney phrase.
1840		Sheffield Iris 22 Dec. 4/2: Before you could say ‘John Robinson’.
1842		S. Lover Handy Andy 209: She couldn’t escape, and the dogs gobbled her while you could say ‘Jack Robinson’.
1848		‘Major Jones’ Sketches of Travel 12: They’d have her out of yer hands quicker’n you could say Jack Robinson.
1851		R. Hicks Lady Killer 90: He would be Whisked up before he could say Jack Robinson.
1862		in B.I. Wiley diary They Who Fought Here (1959) 237: The first thing I knew I had his knife in me and the operation performed ‘Before I could say Jack Robinson’.
1866		Stirling Obs. 5 July 6/3: ‘For Lord’s sake, prime the gun [...] or our throats will be cut from lug to lug before we can cry Jack Robertson!’.
1871		E. Eggleston Hoosier School-Master (1892) 148: I’ll lay you out flat of your back afore you can say Jack Robinson.
1879		‘Autobiog. of a Thief’ in Macmillan’s Mag. (London) XL 503: I [...] guyed down a double before you could say Jack Robinson.
1888		W.B. Churchward Blackbirding In The South Pacific 223: The fish came again close alongside of us, and before you could have said ‘Jack Robinson’ the harpoon was stuck deep into its back.
1897		W.S. Maugham Liza of Lambeth (1966) 24: An’ kissed yer before you could say ‘Jack Robinson’.
1905		‘Central Connecticut Word-List’ in DN III:i 16: quicker than you can say Jack Robinson, adv. phr. Very quick.
1908		L. Doyle Ballygullion 166: An’ before ye could say ‘Jack Robinson’ the two av thim was at it hammer an’ tongs.
1910		N.Z. Truth 22 Jan. 7/6: The bullies come at you [...] ’Fore you can say Jack Horner.
1916		P. Kyne Cappy Ricks 344: I’ve got to have it quickly or I’ll be a pauper while you’d be saying Jack Robinson.
1917		‘Banjo’ Paterson ‘His Masterpiece’ in Three Elephant Power 125: Whoop! Before you could say Jack Robertson, that thousand head of cattle were on their feet.
1925		G.H. Mullin Adventures of a Scholar Tramp 24: Before you could say ‘Jack Robinson’ two men darted out of it and seized us.
1934		J. Franklyn This Gutter Life 214: Three ‘Clover-clubs’ turned up before you could say Jack Robinson.
1937		M. Edgar ‘The Jubilee Sov’rin’ 🎵 Before you could say ‘Uncle Dick’, / He’d got the coin back from his father.
1939		H. Miller Tropic of Capricorn (1964) 21: In one short day, even if you are as fast as Jack Robinson, you can only hire so many.
1946		G. Marx letter in Groucho Letters (1967) 37: I was finally born and before I could say ‘Jack Robinson,’ I was named Julius.
1959		M. Richler Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz (1964) 132: He packed her off to Europe before she could say Jack Robinson.
1967		B. Crump Odd Spot of Bother 85: Why, I’d have staff trouble on my hands before I could say Jack Robinson!
1970		C. Brown Down All the Days 232: At the time of trouble I’m there before you can say Jack Robinson.
1986		S. King It (1987) 49: Their lawyer is going to be on it before you can say ‘Jack Robinson’.
1997		S. Armitage ‘Eclipse’ in CloudCuckooLand 138: Straight away? / Before you can say Jack Robinson.