give a lick and a promise



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, lick, promise

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
Daiva-Lithuanian
EliaE-lyah (Italian), AY-lee-ah (Dutch)Italian, Dutch
Henrikas-Lithuanian
GabriËLKHAH:-bree-əlDutch
Cveta-Serbian
Conall-Irish, Scottish, Irish Mythology