Discussion Forum—A Way with Words, a fun radio show and podcast about language

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In my experience, it usually means very quickly, but sometimes has the connotation of easily. I believe that it is some shortened form of rather graphic simile of "like corn through a goose." I'm a city boy, but I have eaten corn. I'd rather not dwell on the simile to extract the full richness of its meaning.

Suffice it to say that it means very quickly.

My first memory of hearing it was from my father.

I am looking for more authoritative references.