http://www.word-detective.com/2009/03/lick-and-a-promise/ Semper Ubi Sub Ubi Wed, 20 Mar 2013 19:32:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.word-detective.com/2009/03/lick-and-a-promise/comment-page-1/#comment-54921 Paul Sun, 27 Jan 2013 00:50:17 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=637#comment-54921 This was a phrase my mother used a lot, but only in reference to cleaning, and only because you ran out of time to do a better job. I would never use it in reference to painting, because the "promise" is definitely a promise to do a better job next time. Perfect example: "I ran out of time cleaning for the party, so the upstairs bathroom just got a lick and a promise." This was a phrase my mother used a lot, but only in reference to cleaning, and only because you ran out of time to do a better job. I would never use it in reference to painting, because the “promise” is definitely a promise to do a better job next time. Perfect example: “I ran out of time cleaning for the party, so the upstairs bathroom just got a lick and a promise.”

]]> http://www.word-detective.com/2009/03/lick-and-a-promise/comment-page-1/#comment-41063 Lewis R. C. Fri, 22 Jun 2012 19:57:25 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=637#comment-41063 I am, at this moment, writing a letter to my attorneys (two terrific young women with H.C.C. here in N.Y.C.), telling them of the incredibly ugly treatment tenants of the building (where I have lived since 1979) receive from the slimelord (new word, yes ... but you get the meaning). At best, desperately necessary repairs get the old "lick and a promise" treatment! Meanwhile, the neglect of rotted beams and joists (all are wooden throughout the building) leaves me fearful that the building will pancake one day! I am, at this moment, writing a letter to my attorneys (two terrific young women with H.C.C. here in N.Y.C.), telling them of the incredibly ugly treatment tenants of the building (where I have lived since 1979) receive from the slimelord (new word, yes … but you get the meaning). At best, desperately necessary repairs get the old “lick and a promise” treatment! Meanwhile, the neglect of rotted beams and joists (all are wooden throughout the building) leaves me fearful that the building will pancake one day!

]]> http://www.word-detective.com/2009/03/lick-and-a-promise/comment-page-1/#comment-36822 Curtis Eaton Sun, 25 Mar 2012 23:04:38 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=637#comment-36822 In the 1950s, I saw people in rural Oklahoma who, after finishing a meal, licked their plates and untensils and left them on the table ready for the next meal. Perhaps there was also an implicit promise to wash them next time. In the 1950s, I saw people in rural Oklahoma who, after finishing a meal, licked their plates and untensils and left them on the table ready for the next meal. Perhaps there was also an implicit promise to wash them next time.

]]> http://www.word-detective.com/2009/03/lick-and-a-promise/comment-page-1/#comment-20050 Jean Wed, 29 Jun 2011 15:42:46 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=637#comment-20050 If you have very good intentions, it means you give it a really quick go-over because you've not time for more. Then, the promise is to get back to it and do it right as soon as you possibly can. My mother taught me. Her mother was Scots-Irish. If you have very good intentions, it means you give it a really quick go-over because you’ve not time for more. Then, the promise is to get back to it and do it right as soon as you possibly can. My mother taught me. Her mother was Scots-Irish.

]]> http://www.word-detective.com/2009/03/lick-and-a-promise/comment-page-1/#comment-6080 Clarica Tue, 31 Aug 2010 19:18:49 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=637#comment-6080 The promise is you'll come back and do a good job. It only applies if you're too busy to do a good job right now. The promise is you’ll come back and do a good job. It only applies if you’re too busy to do a good job right now.

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