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lick into shape

 - 5 dictionary results

lick

  [lik]
–verb (used with object)
1. to pass the tongue over the surface of, as to moisten, taste, or eat (often fol. by up, off, from, etc.): to lick a postage stamp; to lick an ice-cream cone.
2. to make, or cause to become, by stroking with the tongue: to lick a spoon clean.
3. (of waves, flames, etc.) to pass or play lightly over: The flame licked the dry timber.
4. Informal.
a. to hit or beat, esp. as a punishment; thrash; whip.
b. to overcome or defeat, as in a fight, game, or contest.
c. to outdo or surpass.
–verb (used without object)
5. to move quickly or lightly.
–noun
6. a stroke of the tongue over something.
7. as much as can be taken up by one stroke of the tongue.
8. salt lick.
9. Informal.
a. a blow.
b. a brief, brisk burst of activity or energy.
c. a quick pace or clip; speed.
d. a small amount: I haven't done a lick of work all week.
10. Usually, licks. a critical or complaining remark.
11. Usually, licks. Jazz Slang. a musical phrase, as by a soloist in improvising.
—Verb phrase
12. lick up, to lap up; devour greedily.
—Idioms
13. last licks, a final turn or opportunity: We got in our last licks on the tennis court before the vacation ended.
14. lick and a promise, a hasty and perfunctory performance in doing something: I didn't have time to clean thoroughly, so I gave the room a lick and a promise.
15. lick ass, Slang: Vulgar. kiss (def. 17).
16. lick into shape, Informal. to bring to completion or perfection through discipline, hard work, etc.: They needed another rehearsal to lick the production into shape.
17. lick one's chops. chop 3 (def. 7).
18. lick one's wounds. wound 1 (def. 6).
19. lick the dust. dust (def. 23).
Use lick into shape in a Sentence
Origin:
bef. 1000; ME; OE liccian, c. OS liccōn, OHG leckōn; akin to Go bilaigon, L lingere, Gk leíchein to lick (up)

Related forms:
licker, noun

Synonyms:
9a. thwack, thump, rap, slap, cuff, buffet.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
Cite This Source Link To lick into shape
lick   (lĭk)   
v.   licked, lick·ing, licks

v.   tr.

  1. To pass the tongue over or along: lick a stamp.

  2. To lap up.

  3. To lap or flicker at like a tongue: The waves licked the sides of the boat.

  4. Slang To punish with a beating; thrash.

  5. Slang To get the better of; defeat: licked her weight problem.

v.   intr.
To pass or lap quickly and rapidly: The flames licked at our feet.
n.  

  1. The act or process of licking.

  2. An amount obtained by licking: a lick of ice cream.

  3. A small quantity; a bit: hasn't got a lick of common sense.

  4. A deposit of exposed natural salt that is licked by passing animals.

  5. A sudden hard stroke; a blow.

  6. An attempt; a try.

  7. Informal Speed; pace: moving along at a good lick.

  8. Music A phrase improvised by a soloist, especially on the guitar or banjo.


[Middle English licken, from Old English liccian; see leigh- in Indo-European roots.]
lick'er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Slang Dictionary
lick (sth) into shape

and whip (sth) into shape
  1. tv.
    to put something into good condition, possibly with considerable effort. : I've got about two days more to lick this place into shape so I can sell it. , Whip this manuscript into shape, then we'll talk about publishing it.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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Word Origin & History

lick  (n.)
"an act of licking," 1603, from lick (v.). Meaning "small portion" is 1814, originally Scottish; hence U.S. colloquial sense. Sense of "place where an animal goes to lick salt" is from 1747. Lickety-split is 1859 in Amer.Eng. (earlier lickety-cut, lickety-click, and simply licketie, 1817) from dial. meaning of lick "very fast sprint in a race" (1809). The jazz music sense of "short figure or solo" is from 1920s.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Idioms & Phrases

lick into shape

Also, whip into shape. Bring into satisfactory condition or appearance, as in The garden looks neglected, but Dad will soon lick it into shape, or We need at least three more practices before the team is whipped into shape. The expression using lick, which some think alludes to how bears treat their cubs, dates from about 1600. The variant alludes to the forceful use of a whip to accomplish something.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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