Definition

1. Adjective:

   • (informal, intensifier): Used to add emphasis, often expressing annoyance or surprise, similar to "damn" or "bloody." It is considered mild slang.
   • Closing and opening the eyes quickly: The action of shutting and opening the eyes rapidly, often involuntarily.

2. Noun:

   • The act of blinking: The rapid, involuntary closing and opening of the eyelids.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective (intensifier):

  • That's a blinking difficult puzzle! (That's a very difficult puzzle!)
  • Where's the blinking remote control? (Where's the damn remote control?)

• Adjective (action):

  • The blinking baby fell asleep. (The baby who was blinking fell asleep.)
  • She had blinking eyes from the dust. (Her eyes were blinking because of the dust.)

• Noun:

  • Rapid blinking can be a sign of eye irritation.
  • The doctor checked the patient's blinking reflex.

Advanced Usage

• "the blinking thing": Used informally to refer to an object whose name one can't recall or to express frustration with it.

  • Pass me the blinking thing, will you? (Pass me that thing, will you?)

• As a euphemism: "Blinking" is often used as a mild, inoffensive substitute for stronger swear words.

  • Well, that's just blinking marvelous, isn't it? (Said sarcastically to mean the opposite.)

Variants and Related Words

• Blink (verb): To shut and open the eyes quickly.
  • Don't blink during the photo.
• Blinker (noun): A light on a vehicle that flashes to indicate a turn; or something that obscures vision.
  • Turn on your left blinker.
• Blinkered (adjective): Having a limited outlook or understanding; narrow-minded.
  • He has a blinkered view of the world.

Synonyms

• Adjective (intensifier): Confounded, flaming, blasted, ruddy.
• Verb/Noun (action): Winking, fluttering (of eyelids), nictitating (technical).

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Blink away: To try to stop tears or clear vision by blinking.
  • She blinked away her tears.
• Blink at: To show surprise or disapproval at something.
  • He blinked at the outrageous price.

Related Idioms

• On the blink: (Informal) Not working properly; broken.
  • The washing machine is on the blink again.
• In the blink of an eye: Extremely quickly; instantaneously.
  • The accident happened in the blink of an eye.

Adjective

1. informal intensifiers
   • what a bally (or blinking) nuisance
   • a bloody fool
   • a crashing bore
   • you flaming idiot
2. closing the eyes intermittently and rapidly
   • he stood blinking in the bright sunlight

Noun

1. a reflex that closes and opens the eyes rapidly