1 B1 neutral
To clean the inside of a bowl, jar, or container by licking it.
"The children licked out the mixing bowl after making the cake batter."
separable
lick out
C1 slang separable transitive
To lick the inside of a container clean; also a vulgar slang term for performing oral sex on a woman.
In plain English
To use your tongue to get everything out of a container; or (rude/vulgar) a sexual act.
What does "lick out" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 idiomatic slang
(Vulgar slang) to perform oral sex on a woman.
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To remove the contents of something by licking — using the tongue to clean the inside of a container.
Actually means
To use your tongue to get everything out of a container; or (rude/vulgar) a sexual act.
Usage tip
The literal sense (licking out a bowl or jar) is neutral and used in British English, especially in the context of cooking. The vulgar sense is very informal, crude, and should be avoided in all formal and polite contexts. The vulgar sense is primarily British slang.
Words that pair with "lick out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
bowl jar pot container
How to conjugate "lick out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
lick out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
licks out
he/she/it
Past simple
licked out
yesterday
Past participle
licked out
have + pp
-ing form
licking out
continuous
Hear "lick out" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "lick out" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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