General
a lick
What does a lick mean?
The smallest measure of something, as in "not a lick of sense" or "a lick of work."
"He hasn't done a lick of work all day."
Origin
American colloquial use of "lick" to mean a small quantity or a stroke of effort.
Frequently asked questions
What does "a lick" mean?
It means the smallest amount of something, or a bit of effort, as in "not a lick of sense" or "a lick of work."
How do you use it?
Usually in the negative to stress that none was done, e.g. "He hasn't done a lick of work all day."
Where is it from?
It's an American colloquial use of "lick" to mean a small quantity or a single stroke of effort.
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