Do you use the idiom below?

I will be back before you could say "Jack Robinson".

Yes.

I will be back before you CAN say, "Jack Robinson."

Rachel

Does using [can] instead of [could] make difference?

Yes.

The saying is with "can."

And, it is a sentence that is possible, not conditional, about the future. For this we use "can," not "could."
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Here are some comments on the origin of the expression from Wikipedia:

Jack Robinson is a fictional person used to indicate a period of time, typically in a sarcastic manner. The normal usage is, "(something is done) faster than you can say Jack Robinson" or otherwise "... before you can say Jack Robinson."

Etymology

Several possible explanations are cited:

* Supposedly, an English gentleman of the early 1800s named Jack Robinson was a person who changed his mind often, hence a person had to be quick to catch him in a decision.
* Supposedly, in France in the 1800s, an umbrella was known as a Robinson, and when a gentleman needed his umbrella he would call for his servant (inevitably known as Jacques), hence, "Jacques, Robinson!"
* Between 1660 and 1679 the Officer Commanding the Tower of London was one Sir John Robinson. It may be that the speed of beheading with an axe, something regularly done in the Tower at that time, may be the basis, Jack being a well known form of John. Another version is that Sir John (Jack) Robinson, the Constable of the Tower of London, held at the same time a judiciary appointment in the nearby City of London, and could and did condemn a felon in the City, then have him transported to the Tower where he commanded the execution, the whole process being done 'faster than you can say Jack Robinson'. Perhaps not so mythical after all.

Rachel

"the pot calling the kettle black"

when someone changes the above saying into:

"The kettle calls the pot black"

Is that OK or it is never allowed?

Dear Richard,

May I have your comment?

This is an example of a fixed expression, Mr. Toughy, my friend. Because it's fixed, it can't be fiddled around with, so that's the only way we say it.

Richard

Thanks a lot.

Q: Do you know who fiddled around with that saying?

A: Our teacher of translation whom I told about earlier.

It is said that he has a PHd in translation from Durham University, England.

hahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaaaha!!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Izzy loves you all,

Dear Richard,

Any comments!

Nope. That's between you and him, Ismael.

Richard