lick and a promise

Malachy whispers our wash was a lick and a promise, that’s what Mam would say.

There was always the useful boneless chicken to be creamed in one’s chafing dish; and in another, eggs to be scrambled with a lick and a promise, at these impromptu affairs; and it was a change from the usual codfish balls of the Sunday house breakfast.

“A lick and a promise and we’re ready to go.”

Do hair with a lick and a promise and beat all the other girls to the table.

But as he was dressing in very great haste, Much time spent in washing he thought would be waste; So a lick and a promise was just to his taste.