(defvar icicle-universal-argument-map
  (let ((map  (make-sparse-keymap)))
    (when (fboundp 'universal-argument-other-key) ; up to 24.3
      (define-key map [t] 'icicle-universal-argument-other-key)
      (define-key map (vector meta-prefix-char t) 'icicle-universal-argument-other-key))
    (define-key map [switch-frame] nil)
    (define-key map [?\C-u] 'icicle-universal-argument-more)
    (define-key map [?-] 'icicle-universal-argument-minus)
    (define-key map [?0] 'icicle-digit-argument)
    (define-key map [?1] 'icicle-digit-argument)
    (define-key map [?2] 'icicle-digit-argument)
    (define-key map [?3] 'icicle-digit-argument)
    (define-key map [?4] 'icicle-digit-argument)
    (define-key map [?5] 'icicle-digit-argument)
    (define-key map [?6] 'icicle-digit-argument)
    (define-key map [?7] 'icicle-digit-argument)
    (define-key map [?8] 'icicle-digit-argument)
    (define-key map [?9] 'icicle-digit-argument)
    (define-key map [kp-0] 'icicle-digit-argument)
    (define-key map [kp-1] 'icicle-digit-argument)
    (define-key map [kp-2] 'icicle-digit-argument)
    (define-key map [kp-3] 'icicle-digit-argument)
    (define-key map [kp-4] 'icicle-digit-argument)
    (define-key map [kp-5] 'icicle-digit-argument)
    (define-key map [kp-6] 'icicle-digit-argument)
    (define-key map [kp-7] 'icicle-digit-argument)
    (define-key map [kp-8] 'icicle-digit-argument)
    (define-key map [kp-9] 'icicle-digit-argument)
    (define-key map [kp-subtract] 'icicle-universal-argument-minus)
    map)
  "...")

(defun icicle-universal-argument ()
  (interactive)
  (setq prefix-arg                     (list 4)
        universal-argument-num-events  (length (this-command-keys)))
  (icicle-ensure-overriding-map-is-bound)
  (icicle-msg-maybe-in-minibuffer "prefix %S" prefix-arg))

(defun icicle-digit-argument (arg)
  (interactive "P")
  (digit-argument)
  (icicle-msg-maybe-in-minibuffer "prefix %S" prefix-arg))

(defun icicle-negative-argument (arg)
  (interactive "P")
  (negative-argument arg)
  (icicle-msg-maybe-in-minibuffer "prefix %S" prefix-arg))

(defun icicle-universal-argument-more (arg)
  (interactive "P")
  (universal-argument-more arg)
  (icicle-msg-maybe-in-minibuffer "prefix %S" prefix-arg))

(defun icicle-universal-argument-other-key (arg)
  (interactive "P")
  (universal-argument-other-key arg)
  (icicle-msg-maybe-in-minibuffer "prefix %S" prefix-arg))

(defun icicle-universal-argument-minus (arg)
  (interactive "P")
  (universal-argument-minus arg)
  (icicle-msg-maybe-in-minibuffer "prefix %S" prefix-arg))

;; (defun icicle-ensure-overriding-map-is-bound ()
;;   (unless overriding-map-is-bound
;;     (setq saved-overriding-map           overriding-terminal-local-map
;;           overriding-terminal-local-map  icicle-universal-argument-map
;;           overriding-map-is-bound        t)))

(defun icicle-ensure-overriding-map-is-bound ()
  "Set `overriding-terminal-local-map' to `icicle-universal-argument-map'."
  (cond
   ((boundp 'universal-argument-map) ; Emacs 24+
    (set-transient-map icicle-universal-argument-map nil
                       (lambda () (icicle-msg-maybe-in-minibuffer "prefix %S" prefix-arg))))
   ((not (boundp 'overriding-map-is-bound)) ; Emacs 20, 21.
    (setq overriding-terminal-local-map  icicle-universal-argument-map))
   ((not overriding-terminal-local-map) ; Emacs 22+.
    (setq saved-overriding-map           overriding-terminal-local-map
          overriding-terminal-local-map  icicle-universal-argument-map
          overriding-map-is-bound        t))))

(defun icicle-msg-maybe-in-minibuffer (format-string &rest args)
  (apply #'message format-string args)
  (sit-for 1))

(define-key minibuffer-local-completion-map [remap universal-argument]
  'icicle-universal-argument)
(define-key minibuffer-local-completion-map [remap negative-argument]
  'icicle-negative-argument)
(define-key minibuffer-local-completion-map [remap digit-argument]
  'icicle-digit-argument)

(defun test2 () (interactive) (describe-function '+))
 
(define-key minibuffer-local-completion-map "\C-f" 'test2)