a lick and a promise

a lick and a promise

1. The act of cleaning something hurriedly and carelessly. Often used with the verb "give," as in "give (something) a lick and promise." Just give those shelves a lick and a promise because Grandma will be here any minute!2. The act of doing something hurriedly and carelessly in order to get it done quickly and perhaps before a certain deadline. I told the interns to just give that mailing a lick and a promise because we were supposed to get it out weeks ago.See also: and, lick, promise

lick and a promise

A hasty, superficial, or careless effort. I told the intern to give the proofreading a lick and a promise, as we were supposed to have the book out weeks ago. I didn't have time to clean the entire house before my parents arrived, so I just did it with a lick and a promise.See also: and, lick, promise

*lick and a promise

Fig. a hasty bit of work; a quick once-over. (*Typically: finish something with ~; give something ~.) I was pressed for time, so I just gave the housework a lick and a promise. Mary spent so much time on her history paper that she had to finish her math homework with a lick and a promise.See also: and, lick, promise

a lick and a promise

INFORMALIf you give something a lick and a promise, you clean it very quickly and not very well, but intend to do it more thoroughly later. There was only time in the morning for a lick and a promise. I just gave the kitchen floor a lick and a promise. Note: This expression is sometimes used for other tasks that are done quickly. Whatever they do now, if it's kind of a lick and a promise, then it's putting off the day they're going to have to deal with it.See also: and, lick, promise

a lick and a promise

a hasty performance of a task, especially of cleaning something. informal 2001 Andrew O'Hare Green Eyes Trying to scrub my teeth was just as disastrous as before, washing the face was no more than a lick and a promise but it would have to do. See also: and, lick, promise

a lick and a promise

n. a very casual treatment. A lick and a promise isn’t enough. Take some time and do it right. See also: and, lick, promise

lick and a promise

A superficial effort made without care or enthusiasm.See also: and, lick, promise

lick and a promise, a

A superficial cleaning; a hasty, perfunctory performance. The term, in which the promise is to do a better job sometime later, possibly alludes to the quick lick a cat might give itself. It dates from the nineteenth century. The OED cites W. White’s All Round the Wrekin (1860): “We only give the cheap ones a lick and a promise.” See also hit the high spots.See also: and, lick

lick and a promise

A superficial effort. Rather than wash themselves thoroughly to their parents' satisfaction, youngsters who were in a rush would splash on a little water and say they'd do a better job later. The phrase was extended to apply to any fast and incomplete job.See also: and, lick, promise