Quick and dirty

[Freeguy]

Can we say that these expressions are synonymous with "quick and dirty" (= done fast but not well)? Are there the other equivalents?

1- Give it the quick once-over.
2- Give it a cat's lick and a promise.

 

[Matthew Wai]

"Cursory" is similar to "done fast but not well", see http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/cursory

Not a teacher.

 

[BobK]

Both 1 and 2 are sentences. How can one compare them with an adverb phrase?

b

 

[Rover_KE]

And how can an adjective be suitable there, Matthew?

 

[Matthew Wai]

The OP said "quick and dirty" which are adjectives, perhaps he wanted another adjective.

 

[Freeguy]

Am I supposed to get my answer through your irrelevant replies?

 

[Barb_D]

Am I supposed to get my answer through your irrelevant replies?

Interesting approach to take with people who volunteer their time to help learners.

 

[Freeguy]

Interesting approach to take with people who volunteer their time to help learners.

No. You are under misapprehension. I didn't want to offend anyone. On the contrary, all of your efforts are highly appreciated. But I made up a question. Someone said it's an adverb phrase. Someones repeated what I mentioned. Yet, I didn't get my answer.

 

[bhaisahab]

They are not synonymous.

 

[Barb_D]

It depends what you're describing.

For example, if you were trying to quickly assess whether something makes financial sense, you might do a "quick and dirty" calculation to see if seems to have a positive result. If so, you'd invest more time in a more rigorous assessment. I've heard that called a "back of the envelope calculation" and I've even heard (thought I don't like it) the verb "pencil" - the quick and dirty assessment done in pencil on the back of the envelope look like they might work: "Those numbers seem to pencil."

If you had company coming over and ran through your house collecting your dirty glasses in your living room, folded the blanket on the couch and straightened the pile of magazines on the coffee table, and maybe ran the dust rag over the end table, you've done a "quick and dirty" tidying up. You might call that also "a lick and a promise" (I have never heard the version with the cat before) meaning you'll do the real cleaning later.

 

[probus]

1. I have never heard the version with the cat before.

2. meaning you'll do the real cleaning later."

I agree with both points. As I learned the phrase from my mother, a "lick and a promise" is a quick procedure that you hope will improve the immediate appearance of something. The implied promise that you will do the real cleaning later may be broken.

Cats don't necessarily have anything to do with it.

 

[BobK]

No. You are under misapprehension. I didn't want to offend anyone. On the contrary, all of your efforts are highly appreciated. But I made up a question. Someone said it's an adverb phrase. Someones repeated what I mentioned. Yet, I didn't get my answer.

The answer was 'You'll never find out anything worth finding out until you learn to ask meaningful questions'.

b