# hit a lick

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/hit-a-lick
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To earn a large sum of money in a short amount of time, usually illegally.

## Examples

- 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.

## Origin

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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.