like a dose of salts
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Very quickly and thoroughly.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
After five minutes' conversation with me the old folks would penetrate the deception like a dose of salts.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org). Figurative class: Simile (PIE-English corpus, CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-31).
Common questions
What does “like a dose of salts” mean?
Very quickly and thoroughly.
Is “like a dose of salts” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.