一时半刻 in a short while
Explanation
指很短的时间，通常指半小时到一个小时左右。
Refers to a short period of time, usually about half an hour to an hour.
Origin Story
小明正在家里写作业，突然听到妈妈喊他去帮忙做饭。妈妈说：“小明，快来帮忙，菜马上就要熟了，一时半刻也等不了。”小明放下手中的笔，跑到厨房，帮着妈妈把菜端上桌。一家人围坐在桌边，开开心心地吃着饭。
Xiao Ming was writing his homework at home when he suddenly heard his mother call him to help with the cooking. His mother said, “Xiao Ming, come and help, the food is almost cooked, we can’t wait for a while.” Xiao Ming put down his pen and ran to the kitchen to help his mother put the food on the table. The whole family sat around the table and enjoyed their meal happily.
Usage
这个成语常用来表示时间很短，比如“我一时半刻也离不开。”
This idiom is often used to express a short period of time, for example, “I can’t leave right away.”
Examples
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她马上就要回来了，咱们一时半刻也等不了。
ta ma shang jiu yao hui lai le, zan men yi shi ban ke ye deng bu liao.
She will be back soon, we can't wait for a while.
-
他一时半刻也看不完这些文件。
ta yi shi ban ke ye kan bu wan zhe xie wen jian.
He can't read these documents in a short time.