lick (redirected from licking boots)

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, promise

kiss/lick someone's arse (British & Australian, 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.

See also: arse, kiss

knock/lick something/someone 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 someone'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 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!'

See also: arse

lick your wounds

to feel unhappy after a defeat or an unpleasant experience. After retiring to lick its wounds, the party is regaining its confidence.

See also: wound

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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