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.
Mexico had apparently agreed to it, but the deal was derailed by the Mexican-American War, and California lickety-split became a part of the United States.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 1, 2025
Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace could have supplied us, lickety-split.
From Salon ● Dec. 6, 2024
A sweet tooth may be satisfied lickety-split with pastries, cakes, coffee and tea from Josun Deli the Boutique.
From New York Times ● Sep. 27, 2022
Marshal, with lickety-split wit: “Some would say infamous.”
From Washington Post ● Jul. 14, 2022
David, in fact, likes to go to the very top of that hill and then go running lickety-split down it, racing to see who’s first to the fence at the bottom.
From "Shiloh" by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
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.
