Just to drag this thread back from the scatological and in the general direction of its original purpose, "lick and a promise" is a term which appears to transcend all borders between predominantly English-speaking countries.

I asked an Indian (not red, the real McCoy) friend of mine who lives in Bombay about the term in an email yesterday - after reading this thread - and he replied that he'd used it that day when trying to get a reluctant six-year-old to wash before going out somewhere.

Interesting, isn't it? The etymological basis of the term isn't well understood anywhere, but the meaning of the term doesn't change, regardless of culture or location.

And now, back to eating dates to produce, hummph, ah, raisins? And sorry for having introduced the serious note at an inappropriate moment ...


The idiot also known as Capfka ...