Meaning

1 senses

  1. (not comparable)Quickly; as fast as possible; in short order.

    At the sound of the starting gun, they were off and running lickety-split.

    I need tea right now, lickety-split.

Translations

1 languages

Origin

First attested during the 19th century, in the US, equivalent to lickedy + split, perhaps

First attested during the 19th century, in the US, equivalent to lickedy + split, perhaps as a reference to the flick or darting of a snake's forked tongue. The forms lickety-cut and licketie are similarly attested; and forms with t are likely due to Scottish influence.

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See also

neighbours in the dictionary
lichlickB2lickspittlelicoricelidB2
lickety-split — meaning, examples, forms, synonyms | Krumeto