The phrase “like nobody’s business”

[jupiter]

Hi teachers,

According to Cambridge dictionary, the phrase “like nobody’s business” means very quickly or very much.
Is the following sentences sound natural to you?

1/ He loves her like nobody’s business.

2/ She finished the test like nobody’s business.

3/ Like nobody’s business, he walked out of the room and got into his car.

Thanks in advance

Jupiter

[Jamie (K)]

#1 sounds more or less normal.

#2 doesn't work, because "like nobody's business", or its equivalent "to beat the band", has to be used with activities that can be done to an extreme degree -- not merely very fast or very much, but to an extreme. You can't finish an exam to an extreme degree; you just finish it, so it sounds odd to say someone finishes an exam like nobody's business.

#3 sounds wrong for two reasons. The first is that I don't think I've ever heard "like nobody's business" put at the front of a sentence. The second reason is that there is no way to go to an extreme when you walk out of a door and into a car. These are things that are just done and finished.

Here are some examples of normal-sounding sentences with that idiom.

The kids were screaming like nobody's business.
The kids were screaming to beat the band.
(very loud, very long, and very emotionally)

That person annoys me like nobody's business.

The man was vomiting like nobody's business.

She can ride a horse like nobody's business. (i.e., with an extreme degree of skill)

They can make a hamburger like nobody's business. (i.e., an extremely delicious hamburger)

[jupiter]

Hi Jamie (K),

Thanks a lot for your explanation.
It's really helpful.

Thanks

Jupiter

[somewhatsmart]

It does sound correct, but I probably wouldn't use it in that context. I would prefer something like "He washed cars like nobody's business." Plus, I agree that it shouldn't be used at the start of the sentence. Take care.
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