When I ask the "Is it quick?" question, I'm actually not looking for a time estimate*, but for a hint about whether I have to "switch context", i.e. whether I actually have to drop what I'm currently doing. Sometimes I cannot afford the invest needed to focus or refocus on certain topics, so I try to find out if it's a "soft" question, or e.g. a query for research, and the urgency involved.
*: because I expect to get "4th level"hard questions (due to my role in the team), and people are not good at estimating the time needed for these anyways