licking

Related to licking: Licking County

ass-kissing

1. noun, rude slang Habitual flattery. Enough with the ass-kissing—just tell me what you really think.
2. noun, rude slang Describing the act of habitual flattery. Geez, look at all the ass-kissing messages on the boss's birthday card.

ass-licking

1. noun, rude slang Abject subservience, flattery, or fawning, especially as a means of seeking attention, support, or approval. Enough with the ass-licking—just tell me what you really think. I know you're not doing well in math this year, but ass-licking isn't going to magically get you a good grade!
2. adjective, vulgar slang Displaying or indicating such abject subservience, flattery, or fawning. He surrounds himself with ass-licking cronies to make himself feel important. Look at all the ass-licking messages on the boss's birthday card.

be licking (one's) lips

To be eager and/or show signs of excitement before or during something that one enjoys or that is or will be beneficial to one. A reference to literally licking one's lips in anticipation of eating something delicious. All of the scouts are really licking their lips to get Jones on their roster. You should have seen John at the car show—he was practically licking his lips.
See also: licking, lip

finger-licking good

slang Very delicious or tasty. "Licking" is often colloquially shortened to "lickin.'" Man, these ribs are finger-lickin' good, Mom. Got any more?
See also: good

get a licking

1. To suffer a beating. You're going to get a licking from Dad if you keep sneaking out at night. Todd got a licking from the captain of the football team after flirting with his girlfriend again.
2. To suffer setbacks, losses, or failures. My portfolio sure got a licking when the stock market crashed. I suspect they're going to get a licking if they try to open a business in this recession.
See also: get, licking

lick (one's) chops

1. To anticipate eating (something) with great eagerness or appetite. I was licking my chops when the waiter set the juicy steak down in front of me.
2. To show one's impatience or excitement to do something. You should have seen John at the car show. He was licking his chops looking at all those fancy sports cars. My detractors were practically licking their chops when they heard that my proposal had failed.
See also: chops, lick

lick (one's) lips

1. To anticipate eating (something) with great eagerness or appetite. I was licking my lips when the waiter set the juicy steak down in front of me.
2. To show one's impatience or excitement to do something. You should have seen John at the car show. He was licking his lips looking at all those fancy sports cars. My detractors were practically licking their lips when they heard that my proposal had failed.
See also: lick, lip

lick (one's) wounds

To withdraw after a misstep or defeat in order to recover. I think the senator will be licking his wounds for a while after that disastrous debate performance.
See also: lick, wound

lick (something) off of (something)

To remove something from something else by lapping it up with one's tongue. The animal licked the dirt and blood off its young. We sat licking ice cream off our hands in the hot summer sun.
See also: lick, of, off

lick (something) up

To clean, eat, or drink a substance by licking with the tongue. Usually said of an animal. The dog came over and licked up the spilled pasta sauce. Don't lick that up off the table—you're not a cat, for crying out loud!
See also: lick, up

lick at (something)

1. To lick something intensely and repeatedly. The dog just kept licking at my fingers No matter how much I lick at this suction cup, I can't get it to stick on the window.
2. Of flame, to touch or pass over something very rapidly. The flames were licking at our heels as we climbed the ladder. The fire had just begun licking at the trees when the rain began and quenched the flame.
See also: lick

lick off

1. To remove something by lapping it up with one's tongue. A noun or pronoun can be used between "lick" and "off." The animal licked the dirt and blood off its young. We sat licking ice cream off our hands in the hot summer sun.
2. vulgar slang To bring a woman to orgasm by performing cunnilingus. A noun or pronoun can be used between "lick" and "off."
See also: lick, off

lick out

vulgar slang To perform cunnilingus on a woman. A noun or pronoun can be used between "lick" and "out."
See also: lick, out

lick the dust

obsolete To be defeated in battle. We shall not rest until those traitors lick the dust!
See also: dust, lick

lick up

1. To lap a substance with one's tongue, especially off of some surface. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "lick" and "up." The dog came over and licked up the milk I had spilled on the ground. Please don't lick your mashed potatoes up like that, Billy. You have a fork for a reason!
2. Of flames, to writhe or flicker while traveling up something. The flames licked up the side of the building with an alarming speed.
See also: lick, up

take a licking and keep on ticking

To continue to function, endure, or persevere despite suffering injuries, damage, setbacks, losses, failures, etc. Taken from an advertisement for Timex wrist-watches: "It takes a licking and keeps on ticking." When you're younger, your body can take a licking and keep on ticking, so it's easy to fall into a false sense of invulnerability. This old truck of mine has taken quite a licking over the years, and it just keeps on ticking.
See also: and, keep, licking, on, take, ticking

take a licking but keep on ticking

To continue to function, endure, or persevere despite suffering injuries, damage, setbacks, losses, failures, etc. Taken from an advertisement for Timex wrist-watches: "It takes a Licking and keeps on ticking." When you're younger, your body can take a licking but keep on ticking, so it's easy to fall into a false sense of invulnerability. This old truck of mine has taken quite a licking over the years, but it just keeps on ticking.
See also: but, keep, licking, on, take, ticking
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

lick something off (of) something

 and lick something off
to remove something from something by licking with the tongue. (Of is usually retained before pronouns.) The dog licked the grease off of the floor where the meat had dropped. The dog licked off the grease.
See also: lick, off

lick something up

to clean up all of some substance by licking with the tongue. (Usually said of an animal.) Don't worry about the spilled milk. The dog will lick it up. The dog licked up the milk.
See also: lick, up

*licking

a spanking; a beating in a fight. (*Typically: get ~; take ~; give someone ~.) Billy, you had better get in here if you don't want to get a licking. Bob took a real licking in the stock market. Tom gave Harry a licking in the fight he was in.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

be licking your lips

If someone is looking forward eagerly to a future event, you can say that they are licking their lips. Peter says the Government may collapse. You can almost see him licking his lips. Billy is licking his lips about putting me through his training sessions. Note: You can also say that someone is licking their chops. After hearing the president's plan for economic recovery, they were licking their chops.
See also: licking, lip
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

lick up

v.
To eat or drink something completely by licking: The kitten licked up the milk. The dog licked the spilled food up.
See also: lick, up
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.

ass-kissing

and ass-licking
1. n. the act of fawning over and flattering people. (Rude and derogatory.) After his show of ass-kissing, Fred thought the judge would let him off with a light fine.
2. n. pertaining to the act of fawning over and flattering people. (Rude and derogatory.) Shut your ass-licking mouth and start talking straight, or I’m gonna bust you one. Get your ass-kissing butt out of here!

ass-licking

verb
See ass-kissing
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • dumbass
  • diphead
  • dipstick
  • jacked
  • jacking
References in periodicals archive
"This is a great opportunity for customers and "to-be" customers, to sample our stroopwafels and eat them along with their favorite coffee or tea," said John Bronson, Former NFL Player and Co-Founder of Finger Licking Dutch.
Finger Licking Dutch Is Celebrating "Free Stroopwafel Day" on National Waffle Day, August 24th
<p style="font-weight: 400;">"The Licking County Dog Shelter and Adoption Center appreciates Petland's donation of gift cards and dog food for our dog adopters at the Heath store.
Petland Heath Launches Shelter Effort
One commented: "I find it gross if I'm honest, one thing licking yours at the end of the meal, which is just bad manners, it's a whole other ballgame licking congealed crap off of everyone's before you load the dishwasher."
Mum caught in middle of gross dishwasher habit by neighbour - and she's ashamed; Others called it "really vile" and said it made them feel sick
The MS-160 measures rat licking behavior at a resolution of 1 ms during the controlled presentation of up to 16 taste stimuli, as previously described [16, 17].
The Palatability of Lopinavir and Ritonavir Delivered by an Innovative Freeze-Dried Fast-Dissolving Tablet Formulation
To celebrate the launch of their new jam doughnut recipe, supermarket Morrisons is now challenging people to have a go at eating one without licking their lips.
Treat has us all licked
Miller advises observing whether paw licking involves one or all four feet and whether your dog has any other skin signs.
'There are few behavioral foot lickers'; possible medical causes for excessive licking depend on whether one or four feet are affected
"This young man is running for the state Senate and he's licking his wife's face!
Pol should hold his tongue
Many animals both groom themselves and eat or drink by licking. Grooming licking is a common way for animals to clean themselves.
They've got it licked
"A cat licking near his tail head could have anal sac disease, among all the other reasons for licking," Dr.
The remedy for excessive licking: it begins with an exam to identify one of the many causes, from illness and allergy to arthritis
In all three cases a common history was reported by respective owners of separation anxiety, lack of companionship, abrupt change in usual routine at home and negligence to dog resulting in stereotypic behaviour of self licking, chewing and scratching leading to self-mutilating injuries.
Acral lick dermatitis and its clinical management in canines
But now Theo, a two-year-old cocker spaniel, leaps into action - licking her back to consciousness, then running off to fetch help.
Dog that won't let sleeping girls lie
Many other stressors can also cause licking and chewing, especially in dogs who are genetically predisposed to compulsive oral behaviors.
Behavior mod for itchy dogs: five things to do when your dog chews, licks, or scratches excessively
"Listen, I had some wild nights and did some wild things in the 70s, but I stopped short of licking toads."
WE have been worried to death
Baskin-Robbins notes that licking is preferred to biting "because biting could make the scoop off-balance and case toppling." The company is offering advice to contestants, such as licking evenly around the cone to maintain its shape, eating the cone evenly when the ice cream above it has been licked away so that the ice cream inside is exposed evenly.
Baskin-Robbins teams with Oreo for "Lick-A-Thons"