What Does "Hit a Lick" Mean in Slang?

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Learn the meaning of this popular hip-hop expression

Co-authored by Aaron Makelky and Dev Murphy, MA

Last Updated: March 27, 2025 Fact Checked

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• Definition
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• Origins
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• Usage
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• Related Phrases
|
• Alternative Meanings

|Show more |Show less

Heard the term “hit a lick” in a song or a TikTok and wondered what in the world it meant? There are a few different ways to interpret this trendy phrase, but it typically refers to earning fast money. For the full breakdown of “hit a lick,” keep reading! We’ll explore the various definitions of the phrase, possible origins, and how to incorporate it in your everyday vocabulary.

What Does “Hit a Lick” Mean?

To “hit a lick” commonly means to make money quickly—usually in a shady way, but not necessarily. You might say you “hit a lick” after winning the lottery, or robbing a bank. The phrase is interchangeable with “bust a lick” or “catch a lick.”

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Section 1 of 5:

“Hit a Lick” Definition

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1. 
   "Hit a lick" is a slang phrase that means to make quick money. “Hitting a lick” most often refers to making a lot of money very quickly, and usually by illegal means such as robbery or theft. To “hit” means to take money from someone else, and the “lick” refers to the money itself.

   • “Hitting a lick” is often used to describe shady means of gaining money, but it can also be used to describe any quick accumulation of money, whether legal or not. For instance, if you win the lottery, you could say you “hit a lick.”
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Section 2 of 5:

“Hit a Lick” Origins

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1. 
   “Hit a lick” as a term for earning money appeared in the early 1990s. Thanks to hip hop culture, “hitting a lick” and “a hit and a lick” started being used as slang for “making a score” or “hitting it big” in the ’90s.

   • The phrase was used in rap lyrics in the early ’90s by artists including Scarface, Digital Underground, and Bushwick Bill.

Section 3 of 5:

“Hit a Lick” Usage

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1. 
   Use "hit a lick" when you suddenly find yourself flush with cash. Did you win big in the stock market or crypto? Did you head to the casino to try your luck? Did a distant wealthy relative suddenly pass and leave you their fortune? You’ve hit a lick, baby.

   • “I’m about to turn 21 and you know what that means: I get access to my trust fund! I’m about to hit a lick!”
   • “Sheila hit a lick at the slots last night! She’s buying us all steak dinners!”
   • “My great-great-grandma died, and apparently she not only had a massive fortune, but she left it all to me! I hit a lick!”
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Section 4 of 5:

Related Phrases

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1. 
   1
   There are a lot of slang phrases that mean to make quick money. Want to expand your slang vocabulary even more? Try these other ways of saying you’re suddenly flush with cash:

   • To make a score
   • To hit it big
   • To hit the jackpot
   EXPERT TIP

   

   Aaron Makelky

   Influencer & Content Creator

   Aaron Makelky is an Influencer and Content Creator based in Casper, Wyoming. He has a follower base of over 28K on TikTok, where he creates informative videos on the intersection of AI and Education, offers incisive commentary on social trends, and produces explainer videos on modern slang, social interactions, and more. His creative, helpful TikTok videos where he explains Gen Z slang consistently receive thousands of views and educate the online community on the nuances of modern communication. He produces content both on social media and through courses and other educational materials for both students and teachers that empower them to utilize AI better for learning and productivity. In addition to his content creation and AI consulting business, Aaron has a career in Education as a Teacher. He received a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Administration from the University of Wyoming and a BA in Social Studies Teacher Education from Montana State University.

   

   Aaron Makelky
   Influencer & Content Creator

   Most Gen Zs don't use the phrase "hit a lick." The closest thing they use is the phrase "devious lick" which means vandalizing a school bathroom for fun. "Hit a lick" is more of a millennial term.
2. 
   2
   Didn’t hit the lick? There’s slang for that, too. There are plenty of equally fun and trendy ways to say you’ve failed to hit it big, like these:

   • To take an L
   • To lose it all
   • To throw it all away
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Section 5 of 5:

Alternative Meanings

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1. 
   "Hit a lick" may refer to trying something new. Traditionally, “hit a lick” or “a hit and a lick” may be another way of saying “give something a try.” This usage is less common nowadays and may or may not be related to "hit a lick" as we now know it.

   • “A hit and a lick” first appeared in this context in 1891, in a publication called Wheel and Cycling Trade Review.
   • “Did you put sausage in your ice cream? Well, I’ve never seen that, but I’ll take a hit and a lick.”
   • “I’ve never skateboarded, but I decided to hit a lick today.”

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