Like hell and high lightning American British informal
To be extremely quick and abrupt
The number of people who were confirmed positive with covid 19 increased like hell and high lightning on the first day of the month.
He braked the car like hell and high lightning to avoid crashing into a puppy that leaped the road.
The pupils run out of the classroom like hell and high lightning when they heard the bell.
Very quickly
Very fast.
Quickly and effortlessly
Very quick
It was often said by a photographer when he would like small children to look at the camera and smile before he took a photo.
When the photographer said “watch the birdie”, all of us looked at the camera and smiled.