# pencil whip

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/pencil-whip
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To approve a document without actually knowing or reviewing what it is that is being approved.

## Examples

- Don't just pencil whip the report without reading it.
- The manager was in such a hurry that he decided to pencil whip the safety inspection forms.
- Despite the serious risks involved, the committee chose to pencil whip the proposal rather than conduct the necessary due diligence.

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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.