hit a lick
To earn a large sum of money in a short amount of time, usually illegally.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“He hopes to hit a lick and buy a new car today.”
“The young man bragged to his friends that he could hit a lick if he found the right opportunity.”
“Driven by desperation and the promise of quick wealth, he decided to hit a lick despite the obvious risks involved.”
Attested in the late 20th century, the phrase derives from the specific circumstance of robbing a liquor store. The lick in question refers to the proceeds of the crime, the term having migrated from general criminal slang into wider use.
- 01
don't let the door hit you on the way out
Used as a command to leave in haste, or to indicate that one is glad, or at least unmoved, to see the addressed person leaving.
- 02
fall out of the ugly tree and hit every branch
To become extremely unattractive.
- 03
hit a snag
To encounter an unexpected problem or delay.
- 04
hit a wall
To come up against an insurmountable problem.
- 05
hit above one's weight
Alternative form of punch above one's weight.
- 06
hit and run
A road accident in which a driver hits someone and then drives away without stopping to help or take responsibility.
- 07
hit below one's weight
Alternative form of punch below one's weight.
- 08
hit home
To be especially memorable, meaningful, or significant; to be fully understood, believed or appreciated.
Last updated August 10, 2026