lick

*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, promise

ain't got a grain of sense and ain't got a lick of sense

Rur. is or are foolish. Mary spends money like there's no tomorrow. She sure ain't got a grain of sense. I wouldn't trust Jim to take care of my kids. He ain't got a lick of sense.

See also: got, grain, sense

If you can't beat them, join them. and If you can't lick 'em, join 'em.

Prov. If you have to give up fighting some group because you can't win, band together with them. (The version with lick is informal.) Jill: I just got a kitten. Jane: I can't believe it! You used to hatepeople who owned cats. Jill: If you can't beat them, join them. Alan: I hear you're a Republican now. Fred: Yeah, I figured, if you can't lick 'em, join 'em.

See also: beat, if, join, them

lick someone or something into shape

to press or force someone or something into good shape or condition. The drama coach will try to lick her into shape by performance time. Please try to lick this report into shape by tomorrow morning.

See also: shape

lick something into shape and whip something into shape

Fig. to put something into good condition, possibly with considerable effort. I've got about two days more to lick this place into shape so I can sell it. I want to whip this house into shape for Saturday night.

See also: shape

lick something off (of) something and lick something off

to remove something from something by licking with the tongue. (Of is usually retained before pronouns.) The dog licked the grease off of the floor where the meat had dropped. The dog licked off the grease.

lick something up

to clean up all of some substance by licking with the tongue. (Usually said of an animal.) Don't worry about the spilled milk. The dog will lick it up. The dog licked up the milk.

See also: up

lick at something

to draw the tongue over something repeatedly. Jimmy was just licking at the ice-cream cone, and soon it began to melt and drip off his elbow. I don't just lick at the ice cream. I take big bites of it.

lick of work

a bit of work. (Used with a negative.) I couldn't get her to do a lick of work all day long! The boys didn't do a lick of work while you were away.

See also: work

lick one's chops

Fig. to show one's eagerness to do something, especially to eat something. We could tell from the way the boys were licking their chops that they really wanted a turn at riding the motorcycle. Fred started licking his chops when he smelled the turkey roasting in the oven.

lick one's lips

Fig. to show eagerness or pleasure about a future event. (From the habit of people licking their lips when they are about to enjoy eating something.) The children licked their lips at the sight of the cake. The author's readers were licking their lips in anticipation of her new novel.

See also: lip

lick one's wounds

Fig. to recover from a defeat or a rebuke. (Also literal for an animal.) After the terrible meeting and all the criticism, I went back to my office to lick my wounds.

See also: wound

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give something a lick and a promise 

1. (British & Australian old-fashioned) 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. (American & Australian old-fashioned) 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: and, give, promise

kiss/lick somebody's arse  (taboo!)

to try too hard to please someone and to agree with everything they say, in a way which other people find unpleasant I'm not interested in promotion if you have to lick the boss's arse to get it. (taboo!)

See also: arse, kiss

knock/lick/whipsomething/somebody into shape

to improve the condition of something or the condition or behaviour of someone The prime minister's main aim is to knock the economy into shape. Little Sean is a bit wild but the teachers'll soon lick him into shape when he starts school.

See also: knock, shape

lick somebody's boots  (informal)

to try too hard to please someone important I'm not prepared to lick someone's boots to get a promotion.

See also: boot

lick your lips

to feel pleased and excited about something that is going to happen, usually because you think you will get something good from it Meanwhile, the property developers are licking their lips at the prospect of all the money they're going to make.

See also: lip

lick your wounds

to feel unhappy after a defeat or an unpleasant experience

Usage notes: When dogs and other animals are injured, they lick their wounds (= injuries) in order to help them get better.

After retiring to lick its wounds, the party is regaining its confidence.

See kiss arse, knock into shape

See also: wound

Lick my arse!  (British & Australian taboo!)

something that you say in order to tell someone that you will not do what they want you to do 'I think you'd better leave now.' 'Lick my arse!'

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lick your chops

to be eager to do something that you think will be satisfying or pleasant Their team was so much better than ours that when they played us, they were just licking their chops.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of lick your chops (to lick your lips when thinking of something good to eat)

lick your wounds

to avoid or ignore other people after an unpleasant experience Mary's film career was a failure, and she went home to lick her wounds in private.

Etymology: based on the idea of an injured animal that licks its wounds (cleans an injury with its tongue)

See also: wound