lickety-split
Americanadverb
adverb
Etymology
Origin of lickety-split
An Americanism dating back to 1835–45; lickety, a fanciful extension of lick “to move quickly” + split, “fraction,” as in split second
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
My electric car’s key decided not to be detected, but he knew exactly what to do to make it work and lickety split I was no longer holding up the huge line to get off.
From Seattle Times • Apr. 3, 2022
Just before the conclusion of the formalities, Austin is back working the fence line to move us, lickety split, to the holding pen outside the Oval Office.
From The Guardian • Sep. 27, 2019
Say you're a moisture farmer from Anchor Head, Mos Eisley, or some other wretched hive of scum and villainy, and you need to get to Alderaan lickety split.
From The Verge • Dec. 19, 2015
"I like them to go lickety split better than lickety cut, don't you?" says the Little Lady.
From How Mr. Rabbit Lost his Tail Hollow Tree Stories by Condé, J. M.
I pulled greatly and in he came lickety split, and what do you think he said?
From The Wide Awake Girls in Winsted by Barrett, Katharine Ellis
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
