Mother's Sayings

[AceofClubs]

When we used to have a quick wash my mother used to say "A cat lick and a promise".Is this a Midland saying?She was actually from Derbyshire.

[dickythecook]

We had the expressions- A lick and a promise and also A spit wash. The latter was said by and elderly aunt from Yorkshire. As for the origins of the first saying my family hailed from Westmorland and S.W. Lancs. I'll ask my Mum and Dad, they might have a better idea. Morning all. dtc.

[dickythecook]

Sorry forgot to mention the spit wash involed spit, a hankie that smelled of cough sweets. They were both needed to remove the lipstick that she left on our cheeks after greeting us.

[nungate]

We say it here in Scotland as well. In France they use the expression Toilette du chat which is practically the same thing in translation

[Old_Geezer]

My mother used much the same expression, except the cat wasn't mentioned, and she was from the West Country.

[tonyav]

My mother said the same but without the promise bit, West Midlands.

[bookbinder]

My mother used "a lick and a promise", and she lived most of her life in Bradford (W. Yorkshire).

[Kiki-frog]

A lick and a promise - no cat involved. Her parents were from Yorkshire but she grew up in London.

[FredPuli43]

Same here in East Anglia. My grandmother used it, complete with "cat".

[mojay]

yes, a popular saying in the West Country

[sophie_1003]

We had a 'quick lick and promise' rather than the cat; W.Mids too but seems like variations are common all over.

[maggiebee]

A lick and a promise where I live in Scotland.

[Buenchico]

My mother (from the East End of London, but bringing me up in Suffolk) also used "a lick and a promise".

[Caran]

We had the cat lick in Manchester. What about "Whats for tea?" "A jump of the door and a bite of the latch" Where on earth did that come from?

[tamborine]

my mum's disgusting habit was to lick a hanky & wipe my face - ugh !

[sophie_1003]

For dinner we had bread and pullit or if we asked "What are we having for dinner today?" it was "nothing for you but sawdust and hay" (from the woodentops?)

[magicmick]

A cat lick in Bolton but no promise, when dad was in bad books with mum he used to say it's huntsmans supper again, cold shoulder and grouse.

[littleja]

It was popular in liverpool when I was a child. A cat's lick and a promise.