Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[jennyxj]

The following is from a book entitled Free the Beagle:

"Oh, what an untidy sight confronted the lawyer as he stepped beneath
the sky! Poindexter [A cat] was a blurry furry ball bouncing between
the shoeshine chair and the newspaper stand with the beagle right
behind him. Newspapers, shoe brushes, and tins of polish were
scattered about the lawn. Aroo! Aroo-aroo! Feet scrambling for
purchase, the beagle tried to climbed the side of the stand.
Poindexter, convinced that the dog would succeed, drove in a valiant
display of feline grace to the base of the official clock and, before
you could say 'Holly Golightly,' was perched at the very top of it."

I know Holly Golightly here must be something or someone with speed and agility, but my question is: why Holly Golightly? Does this expression have anything to do with the film Breakfast at Tiffinys?

Thanks.

Jenny
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Jenny from Xinjiang

[CP]

Holly Golightly is a musician. See her Web site:

www.hollygolightly.com

And Holly Golightly is the character from Breakfast at Tiffany's, portrayed by Audrey Hepburn in the film. See the Wikipedia piece:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breakfast_at_Tiffany's

The phrase is just a variation on, "and before you could say 'Jack Robinson,'" something happened. And that just means that it happened right away.
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You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb

[jennyxj]