Quick as an adverb

[Paramah Sungelee]

Can one use the word 'quick' as an adverb of manner?

 

[5jj]

Can you give us an example of a sentence in which you think it's acceptable?

 

[Paramah Sungelee]

"Come on, quick!"

 

[5jj]

I'd say it was an adjective there with 'be' understood before 'quick'.

 

[probus]

Judging by the American PDQ I'd say quick can be an adverb in American English. As a youngster I was taught that it stands for pretty damn quick although I suppose it could just as well be pretty damn quickly.

 

[jutfrank]

I've always thought of PDQ as meaning 'pretty damn quick', where quick is an adjective, modified by the adverbs pretty and damn. But I think probus has a point when he says that the entire expression can be used adverbially:

She finished it pretty damn quick.

Whether such use is considered acceptable standard English or not I think is a matter of opinion.