🎨 Lick and a Promise: The Art of Superficial Cleaning
A lick and a promise - A superficial cleaning; a hasty, perfunctory performance. The term, in which the promise is to do a better job sometime later (often not fulfilled), possibly alludes to the quick lick a cat might give itself. It dates from the nineteenth century. The OED cites W. White’s All Round the Wrekin (1860): “We only give the cheap ones a lick and a promise.” See also hit the high spots.
🎭 Related and Similar Terms
- Hit the high spots - To touch only the most important parts briefly.
- Surface-level - To deal with or clean only the surface.
- Bare bones - To perform the minimum necessary.
- Quick pass - A fast, incomplete cleaning or examination.
🧠 Synonyms
- Shallow clean
- Quick wipe
- Perfunctory job
- Skim
💢 Antonyms
- Thorough cleaning
- Deep clean
- Detailed job
😄 Humor-Filled Quotes
“Cleaning the house while the kids are still growing is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing.” – Phyllis Diller
🪄 Proverbs
“A stitch in time saves nine” - Addressing problems when they’re small prevents them from becoming bigger.
📚 References and Literature
- Books: Clutter Control: Putting Your Home on a Diet by Jeff Campbell.
- Quotes: “Most of the time I don’t have much fun. The rest of the time I don’t have any fun at all.” – Woody Allen (sums up the feeling on cleaning).
🎥 Movies and Entertainment
- Mrs. Doubtfire – a movie where cleaning in disguise becomes a whole new form of entertainment.
- Marry Poppins – classic film with magical cleaning!
🎵 Songs and Poetry
- Yakety Yak by The Coasters – A song that alludes to chores and cleaning.
🌟 Inspirational Thought-Provoking Farewell
Remember always, a quick ‘lick and a promise’ might hold off the dust for now, but a true commitment to your tasks and goals builds the foundation of success. Every polished corner and completed endeavor shines the light on your dedication!
🌟 Keep your promises shining bright and your ’licks’ just right!
