Meaning & use
lick of sense
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Meaning
phraseidiominformal
Even a very small amount of good judgment or reasonable thinking (used in negative statements).
Grammar: Fixed phrase; normally appears after 'not' or 'without', as in 'not a lick of sense'.
Patterns
- not have a lick of sense
- without a lick of sense
- not a lick of sense
He spent his whole paycheck on lottery tickets; the man hasn't a lick of sense.
You'd think she'd know better, but she doesn't have a lick of sense about money.
It was a plan without a lick of sense behind it.
Common combinations
- not have a lick of sense
- My cousin doesn't have a lick of sense when it comes to cars.
- without a lick of sense
- He answered without a lick of sense.
- not a lick of sense
- There's not a lick of sense in that argument.
- show a lick of sense
- For once, show a lick of sense and read the contract.
Synonyms and how they differ
- a grain of sense
- Nearly the same meaning and also used in negatives, but slightly more neutral in tone.
- common sense
- Names the general ability to think sensibly; 'a lick of sense' means even a trace of it.
Word family
Commonly confused: lick of sense or a lick of paint?
lick of sense vs a lick of paint
This different phrase means a quick, thin coat of paint, not a small amount of judgment.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'a lick of sense' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The phrase is used in negative statements about judgment, so 'hasn't a lick of sense' fits. Using it positively, as in the first option, sounds wrong, and the paint and verb uses belong to other meanings of 'lick'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “lick of sense”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.