A Lick and a Promise
By Val
@valmnz (17095)
New Zealand
September 25, 2015 11:38pm CST
Have you ever heard of this expression a lick and a promise. It means I'll do a quick job now and promise to do better next time.
My father used to use this a lot, especially when I didn't feel like going through my usual bedtime routine of washing my face, cleaning my teeth and such. I loved him for it when, after my moaning, he suggested well let's have a lick and a promise tonight and do better tomorrow.
The only trouble is, it is an expression I still use every now and then, after all these years. The situation I apply it to most these days is housework. This morning I found myself saying, when not in the mood for my weekly full housework, I'll just do a lick and a promise this week. The trouble is, this can be very habit forming.
Have you heard this expression before? Do you use it yourself maybe?
25 people like this
26 responses
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
27 Sep 15
no ma'am, don't reckon i've heard that'un 'fore. i'm a bit o'er the top, so the hubs says, when it comes to cleanin' 'n do such from floor to ceilin'. the place may be cluttered (mercy 's he lots 'f 'schtuff'!), but it gets a thorough scrubbin'.
1 person likes this
@valmnz (17095)
• New Zealand
27 Sep 15
@crazyhorseladycx we could have quite some sightseeing tour
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@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
27 Sep 15
@valmnz i'd be most honored to come fer a visit, ms. val! 'n yepperz, i'd help ya tackle whate'er needed done...if'n ya show me 'round some places 'fter 'tis done
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189927)
• Boise, Idaho
26 Sep 15
I have heard it but not a lot. I think we are the only ones that have control over our brains, how we think, etc. If we make that promise ourselves I think we also need to tell ourselves that this is a one time thing and next time we will do it right.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189927)
• Boise, Idaho
26 Sep 15
@valmnz ........Or you just don't wanna.
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@else34 (13515)
• New Delhi, India
26 Sep 15
@valmnz,First of all,tons of thanks for enlightening me about this nice expression.I didn't know about it.I have noted it down and will use it in my discussions and comments.Right now I am toying an idea of doing a lick and a promise in mylotting today.Today I have a lot of engagements and perhaps I will not be able to stay here for long.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
26 Sep 15
My mother used that one too. I guess it was generational! I know I've never used it
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@valmnz (17095)
• New Zealand
27 Sep 15
@AbbyGreenhill oh yes! We heard that too
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@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
27 Sep 15
@valmnz The one I used to hear the most from her was, "I'm gonna wash your mouth out with soap'!
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169530)
• United States
27 Sep 15
I am familiar with the term, and it often describes me. I do not think I actually use it myself.
1 person likes this
@gregario888 (1276)
• Aurangabad, India
26 Sep 15
I heard it the first time. It surely is a gorgeous nugget of a saying! Will surely add it to my,"quiver".
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
26 Sep 15
I have heard a lick and a promise before, but only in reading, not really in actually usage. I think at least in the areas I have lived it, it has moved out of common speech. But I know what you mean, it's a polite way of saying half-(insert a more polite version of the word so often used here for bums)ing things. That very well can be habit forming.
1 person likes this
@softbabe44 (5815)
• Vancouver, Washington
26 Sep 15
i have never heard that before but it does hold potencial
1 person likes this
@bluesa (15022)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
26 Sep 15
Here we say, there was only a lick and a promise left of the pudding, so I see it as, only a little left of. But I like that it can mean, doing something quick, till a person has time to take more effort. . And oh my, house work can be the pitts, I will due to the Rugby today, also only do a lick and a promise when it comes to housework today.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
27 Sep 15
While it does sound just slightly familiar, I've never used it nor did I realize what it meant. I imagine it could be very habit forming unless you made yourself do better the next time. Maybe for your housework, you can say that if you continue to finish it up the next day. That way, you may just do better while you're doing it-maybe. 
Did your dad make you do better the next day or did he let you slide over and over again?
Did your dad make you do better the next day or did he let you slide over and over again?1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
26 Sep 15
never heard the expression before but certainly done it many times
1 person likes this
@jstory07 (148764)
• Roseburg, Oregon
26 Sep 15
I have never heard that saying before and I thought I had heard them all.
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
26 Sep 15
It's my first time hearing this phrase. I might want to say this to my son when he complains about cleaning his room again.
1 person likes this
@TypicalRussian (747)
• Budennovsk, Russian Federation
26 Sep 15
Thank you for sharing this linguistic information
1 person likes this
