Acronym for “pretty damn quick,” indicating something that has occurred, or will or should occur, with considerable speed. This cliché dates from the late nineteenth century. The earliest citation listed by the OED is dated ca. 1875, when B. Woolf, in the play The Mighty Dollar, had a character say, “That’s right, you’d better step P.D.Q., pretty damn quick.” The synonym ASAP, the acronym for “as soon as possible,” has been used in a variety of contexts since the mid-1900s. For example, in a help wanted ad, “Housekeeper wanted ASAP,” or in a business memorandum, “Call him ASAP; he’ll be glad to talk to you.” ASAP also has been used for computer software (Advanced Systems Analysis Program) and often in music. It is the name of a hard rock band, the title of several popular songs, and the title of a composition by John Cage.