Very quickly, at once.
1834. Be off in a hurry, or I shall fire upon you in short order.—W. G. Simms, ‘Guy Rivers,’ i. 176 (1837).
1840. I cut out in quick order from the hollow, and made clean tracks for camp.—C. F. Hoffman, ‘Greyslaer,’ ii. 28.
1847. If I had my way, I would eject him in short order.—J. K. Paulding, ‘American Comedies,’ p. 136 (Phila.).
1847. I’ll fix your flint in short order.—Id., p. 197.
1876. The newspaper men delighted in telling the soldiers that the Yankees were a diminutive race, of feeble constitution, timid as hares, with no enthusiasm, and that they would perish in short order under the glow of our Southern sun.—‘Southern Hist. Soc. Papers,’ ii. 228–9.
