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Where did the phrase "a lick and a promise" meaning a careless, inattentive work performance, come from?

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[+3] - djjd62 - 12/17/2008from a UK website [b]A Lick And A Promise[/b] Meaning A cursory effort, for instance at painting or tidying up. It alludes to the perfunctory washing performed by children. Origin This is...

@Tomkitten,

Quote:

This is colloquial English and is first recorded in print in Walter White's All round the Wrekin, 1860:

"We only gives the cheap ones a lick and a promise."

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/a-lick-and-a-promise.html

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@Tomkitten,

A lick and a promise
Meaning

A cursory effort, for instance at painting or tidying up. It alludes to the perfunctory washing performed by children.

Origin
This is colloquial English and is first recorded in print in Walter White's All round the Wrekin, 1860:

"We only gives the cheap ones a lick and a promise."

1 Reply

from a UK website
A Lick And A Promise

Meaning
A cursory effort, for instance at painting or tidying up. It alludes to the perfunctory washing performed by children.

Origin
This is colloquial English and is first recorded in print in Walter White's All round the Wrekin, 1860:
"We only gives the cheap ones a lick and a promise."

1 Reply

@BumbleBeeBoogie,

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@djjd62,

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thank god for google Wink

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A bit of back to the future trivia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_Sun

Silver Sun is an English band of the power pop genre.

Excerpt:

Quote:

Their fourth album, Dad's Weird Dream, was released in Japan on 11 September 2006. However, the decision was taken to remix it for the UK edition, where it was released on 4 December 2006. One track, "Fallen" was remixed by Nigel Godrich, working with the band for the first time since their debut, currently available as an itunes exclusive EP. Unlike its predecessor, the entire original line-up has participated in the recording, though Richard Sayce is only credited with backing vocals, as the band used programmed drums for the album. James Broad has stated that the next album (which is expected to be titled "A Lick And A Promise" and is due in 2008) will be the four members playing live in a studio.[/[/u]quote]

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