To save this word, you'll need to log in.
Definition of a lick and a promise
1 US : a quick and careless attempt to do something
They gave the budget problems a lick and a promise and then moved on to the next issue.
2 British : the act of washing something quickly or carelessly
He gave the car a lick and a promise.
Comments on a lick and a promise
What made you want to look up a lick and a promise? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
A More Exception(al) Quiz
- Which of the following words is not a synonym for ‘a young person’?
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
Ask the Editors
Share a lick and a promise