〜そばから

片付(かたづ)けるそばから、子供(こども)が散(ち)らかします。

Katazukeru soba kara, kodomo ga chirakashimasu.

No sooner do I tidy up than the children mess it up.

そばから is it happening again the moment you finish, over and over

覚(おぼ)えるそばから忘(わす)れてしまいます。

Oboeru soba kara wasurete shimaimasu.

I forget things as fast as I learn them.

Against や否や, this one must repeat

愚痴(ぐち)として使(つか)われることが多(おお)いです。

Guchi to shite tsukawareru koto ga ōi desu.

It is mostly used as a grumble.

So it turns up in dialogue more than in papers