give a lick and a promise

give something a lick and a promise

1. to clean something quickly and not carefully. I put on my new suit, gave my shoes a lick and a promise, and left the house.

2. to do a job or piece of work quickly and not carefully. We didn't have time to do much clearing up in the yard - just gave the grass a lick and a promise.

See also: give, lick, promise