as soon as

• soon as (colloquial, ellipsis)

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as soon as

1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see as,‎ soon.

   I came as soon as I could.

2. At the moment when; immediately after; instantly.

   As soon as he arrived, everyone gasped.

   Synonyms: immediately, once

   • 1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, Canto XXVI, page 43:

     […] that eye which watches guilt
     ⁠And goodness, and hath power to see
     ⁠Within the green the moulder’d tree,
     And towers fall’n as soon as built— […]

3. (idiomatic) Used to indicate that the first action mentioned is as likely as, or is preferred to, the second action mentioned.

   I'd jump out the window as soon as not.

   • 2003 Oct. 12, William Safire (quoting 1913 New York City court records), "The Way We Live Now," New York Times (retrieved 19 Sep 2015):

     "He was a bad guy. He would hit you with a chunk of pipe as soon as look at you."

   • 2013 April 5, David Hathaway, “Your 2nd Amendment Cop Buddy Will Take Your Guns”, in LewRockwell.com, retrieved 19 September 2015:

     "[T]hey are the worst of the worst and they will shoot you just as soon as say Hello."

• as soon as look at someone
• as soon as possible (ASAP)

as soon as

1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see as,‎ soon.

   He might arrive as soon as three o'clock.