lickety-split

[lik-i-tee-split]

adverb

Informal.

1. at great speed; rapidly.

   to travel lickety-split.

lickety-split

/ ˈlɪkɪtɪˈsplɪt /

adverb

1. informal,  very quickly; speedily

Word History and Origins

Origin of lickety-split¹

An Americanism dating back to 1835–45; lickety, a fanciful extension of lick “to move quickly” + split, “fraction,” as in split second

Word History and Origins

Origin of lickety-split¹

C19: from _lick + _split