Street
lick
What does lick mean?
A robbery, or more loosely any quick, opportunistic come-up — could be a stick-up, a scam, a flipped bag, a plug. 'Hit a lick' = pulled off the score. Born in Southern street slang, weaponised by Chicago drill and now standard across rap.
"Boy hit a lick last night, came back with the whole bag."
Origin
Older African American street slang for a robbery; carried into drill and trap from the 2000s onward.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'lick' mean in Patois?
To hit or strike something, or a blow itself. 'Lick shot' means to fire a gun or celebrate with gunshots in the air.
What are 'licks' in Jamaican slang?
'Licks' means a beating or punishment — for example a child who misbehaves might 'get some licks'.
Does 'lick shot' mean shooting a gun?
It can mean firing a gun, but in dancehall culture it's often a celebratory salute to a great tune or performance.
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