- Today's Word
Lickety-split
[LIK-i-tee-split]
Definition
- (adverb) To do something very quickly or at full speed. It’s used to describe an action done with great haste or something happening in an extremely short time.
Example
When the boss announced free pizza in the break room, the employees ran lickety-split to grab a slice before it was all gone.
Fun Fact
The origin of “lickety-split” is somewhat unclear, but it’s believed to have originated in 19th-century America. The term first appeared in print around the 1840s. The “lickety” part might be related to “lick,” as in to travel at a lick, or to go fast. Some linguists suggest it could be an alteration of “licketie,” meaning “in a minute.” The “split” portion emphasizes the speed, perhaps alluding to splitting the air or covering a split second. This colorful phrase is part of a tradition of reduplicated or rhyming phrases in English (like helter-skelter or hurly-burly) that add emphasis through sound. Its enduring usage demonstrates the American penchant for vivid, playful language to describe everyday concepts.
(verb) To reprimand someone severely; to criticize harshly.
The editor castigated the writer for missing yet another deadline.
Early 17th century: from Latin castigare, from castus ‘pure’ + agere ‘to drive’.