(n.) A sudden stroke; an unexpected device or stratagem; -- a term used in various ways to convey the idea of promptness and force.

abduction accomplished fact accomplishment achievement act acta action ad hoc measure adventure answer apprehension arrest arrestation art artful dodge artifice blind blow breath capture catch catching chicanery collaring conspiracy contrivance countermove course of action crack craft cute trick dealings deceit deed demarche design device dodge doing doings dragnet effort endeavor enterprise expedient exploit fait accompli fakement feat feint fetch flash forcible seizure gambit game gest gimmick go grab grabbing grift half a jiffy half a mo half a second half a shake hand handiwork hold improvisation instant intrigue jiff jiffy job jugglery jury-rig jury-rigged expedient kidnapping knavery last expedient last resort last shift little game makeshift maneuver means measure microsecond millisecond minute moment move nabbing operation overt act passage performance picking up pis aller plot ploy power grab prehension proceeding production racket red herring res gestae resort resource running in ruse scheme sec second seizure seizure of power shake shake-up shift sleight snatch snatching solution split second step stopgap stratagem strategy stroke stroke of policy stunt subterfuge tactic taking in taking into custody temporary expedient thing thing done tick tour de force transaction trice trick trickery trump turn twink twinkle twinkling twitch two shakes undertaking wile wily device wink work working hypothesis working proposition works