give (something) a lick and a promise

give (something) a lick and a promise

1. To clean something hurriedly and carelessly. Just give those shelves a lick and a promise because Grandma will be here any minute!2. To do something hurriedly and carelessly in order to get it done quickly and perhaps before a certain deadline. I told the interns to just give that mailing a lick and a promise because we were supposed to get it out weeks ago.See also: and, give, lick, promise