Lick & a promise

Posted by ESC November 03, 2000In reply to Origin of phrase posted by Wayne on November 03, 2000

Does anyone here know the origin of the phrase "a lick and a promise"?

The closest I came on this site was a sentence under origin that ended "...in a novel by?" which left my question hanging.

Thanks.

I've heard this phrase used in connection with chores -- housework in particular. "I'm just giving this floor a lick and a promise." Meaning run a damp mop over it quickly with the promise or expectation of doing a more thorough cleaning later. The definition of "lick" in this case would be "hasty careless effort." (Merriam-Webster Dictionary.)