1 kick
Pronounced:
/ˈkɪk/
Function:
verbInflected forms:
kicks; kicked; kick·ingMeaning:
1 a [+ obj] : to hit (someone or something) with your foot ▪ The attacker kicked him in the stomach. ▪ She lost her temper and kicked over the box. ▪ He kicked the ball into the goal. ▪ She kicked the ball to me. ▪ The policeman kicked the door open. b : to move your leg or legs in the air or in water especially in a strong or forceful way [+ obj] ▪ The baby kicked his legs in the air. ▪ The swimming instructor reminded the children to kick their legs as they swam. [no obj] ▪ The baby kicked with pleasure. ▪ The boy kicked and screamed as his mother carried him out of the room. = The boy was carried out of the room kicking and screaming. —often used figuratively ▪ They told him he needed a computer, but he had to be dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century. [=he had to be forced to stop doing things the old way and use a computer]
2 [+ obj] sports : to score (a goal) by kicking a ball ▪ He kicked the winning field goal.
3 [+ obj] informal : to completely stop doing (something harmful to yourself) : to put an end to (a bad or dangerous habit) ▪ When he was 25, he kicked his cocaine habit and went back to school. ▪ I've been smoking for years, but this year I'm determined to kick the habit.
4 [no obj] informal : to be full of life and energy —always used as (be) kicking ▪ He's almost 90 years old, but he's still kicking. ▪ The movement is still alive and kicking.
2 [+ obj] sports : to score (a goal) by kicking a ball ▪ He kicked the winning field goal.
3 [+ obj] informal : to completely stop doing (something harmful to yourself) : to put an end to (a bad or dangerous habit) ▪ When he was 25, he kicked his cocaine habit and went back to school. ▪ I've been smoking for years, but this year I'm determined to kick the habit.
4 [no obj] informal : to be full of life and energy —always used as (be) kicking ▪ He's almost 90 years old, but he's still kicking. ▪ The movement is still alive and kicking.
kick around
[phrasal verb] informal 1 kick around (a place) or kick around : to spend time in (a place) without having a goal or purpose : to wander around (a place) ▪ After graduation, he kicked around Boston for a while, trying to decide what to do next. = After graduation, he kicked around for a while, trying to decide what to do next.
2 : to be lying somewhere within a general area or place ▪ I think I have a copy of that book kicking around [=lying around] somewhere in my house.
3 a : to be considered or discussed in an informal way over a period of time ▪ These ideas have been kicking around for years. b kick around (something) or kick (something) around : to consider or talk about (ideas, plans, etc.) in an informal way ▪ We should have a meeting to kick around some ideas about possible new products.
4 kick (someone) around or kick around (someone) : to treat (someone) in a very bad or unfair way ▪ He gets kicked around by his older brother.
2 : to be lying somewhere within a general area or place ▪ I think I have a copy of that book kicking around [=lying around] somewhere in my house.
3 a : to be considered or discussed in an informal way over a period of time ▪ These ideas have been kicking around for years. b kick around (something) or kick (something) around : to consider or talk about (ideas, plans, etc.) in an informal way ▪ We should have a meeting to kick around some ideas about possible new products.
4 kick (someone) around or kick around (someone) : to treat (someone) in a very bad or unfair way ▪ He gets kicked around by his older brother.
kick ass
US informal + impolite 1 : to succeed or win in a very impressive way ▪ a lawyer who kicks ass in the courtroom ▪ Our team kicked ass in the soccer tournament.
2 : to use force to achieve some purpose ▪ If they don't start answering my questions, I'm going to go over there and kick some ass.
3 kick someone's ass a : to attack and injure someone severely ▪ Some drunk threatened to kick his ass. ▪ He got his ass kicked by some drunk. b : to defeat someone easily or completely ▪ We got our asses kicked [=we lost badly] in the last game. —see also kick-ass
2 : to use force to achieve some purpose ▪ If they don't start answering my questions, I'm going to go over there and kick some ass.
3 kick someone's ass a : to attack and injure someone severely ▪ Some drunk threatened to kick his ass. ▪ He got his ass kicked by some drunk. b : to defeat someone easily or completely ▪ We got our asses kicked [=we lost badly] in the last game. —see also kick-ass
kick back
[phrasal verb] chiefly US informal : to relax and enjoy yourself ▪ After work, he likes to kick back and watch some TV. ▪ I spent the weekend just kicking back.
kick butt
US informal + sometimes impolite —used in the same ways as kick ass (above) ▪ Our team kicked butt in the soccer tournament. ▪ I'm going to go over there and kick some butt. ▪ Some drunk threatened to kick his butt.
kick in
[phrasal verb] informal 1 : to begin to work or to have an effect ▪ Once the heat kicks in, it will be a lot more comfortable in here. ▪ waiting for the new law to kick in
2 kick in (something) or kick (something) in US : to give (an amount of money) as your share : contribute ▪ We each kicked in a few dollars for her gift.
2 kick in (something) or kick (something) in US : to give (an amount of money) as your share : contribute ▪ We each kicked in a few dollars for her gift.
kick off [phrasal verb]
1 : to start play in a game (such as American football or soccer) by kicking the ball ▪ Jones will kick off from the 30-yard line. —see also kickoff
2 a kick off (something) or kick (something) off : to begin (something, such as a performance, an event, or a discussion) ▪ The chairman's speech will kick off the conference. b : to get started : begin ▪ The conference kicked off with a speech by the chairman. ▪ The game kicks off at 1:00.
3 kick (someone) off (something) : to force (someone) to leave (a team or group) ▪ The coach threatened to kick him off the team if he continued to be late for practice.
4 kick off (your shoes) or kick (your shoes) off : to remove (your shoes) by making a kicking motion ▪ She kicked off her shoes and started to dance.
5 informal : to die ▪ I was so sick that I felt like I might kick off at any time.
2 a kick off (something) or kick (something) off : to begin (something, such as a performance, an event, or a discussion) ▪ The chairman's speech will kick off the conference. b : to get started : begin ▪ The conference kicked off with a speech by the chairman. ▪ The game kicks off at 1:00.
3 kick (someone) off (something) : to force (someone) to leave (a team or group) ▪ The coach threatened to kick him off the team if he continued to be late for practice.
4 kick off (your shoes) or kick (your shoes) off : to remove (your shoes) by making a kicking motion ▪ She kicked off her shoes and started to dance.
5 informal : to die ▪ I was so sick that I felt like I might kick off at any time.
kick out [phrasal verb]
kick (someone) out or kick out (someone) : to force (someone) to leave a place, group, school, etc. ▪ He was/got kicked out [=thrown out] of the school when he was caught cheating again. ▪ They threatened to kick him out (of the bar) if he didn't stop annoying people. ▪ She kicked her husband out (of the house).
kick (someone) upstairs
informal : to promote (someone) to a higher but less powerful or important position ▪ He was kicked upstairs, given a fancy title, and stripped of most of his power.
kick the bucket
informal + somewhat old-fashioned : to die ▪ He inherited the house after his uncle kicked the bucket.
kick up [phrasal verb]
1 kick up (something) or kick (something) up : to cause (something) to rise upward ▪ The car sped away, kicking up dirt and gravel.
2 informal a kick up (something) or kick (something) up : to cause (something) to become stronger ▪ The praise kicked up her confidence. ▪ The intensity of the game got kicked up a notch when a fight broke out. b : to become stronger ▪ The wind suddenly kicked up.
3 kick up (something) or kick (something) up informal : to cause (something) to happen ▪ The high winds kicked up huge waves. ▪ The service in the restaurant wasn't very good, but we decided not to kick up a fuss/stink [=complain] about it.
2 informal a kick up (something) or kick (something) up : to cause (something) to become stronger ▪ The praise kicked up her confidence. ▪ The intensity of the game got kicked up a notch when a fight broke out. b : to become stronger ▪ The wind suddenly kicked up.
3 kick up (something) or kick (something) up informal : to cause (something) to happen ▪ The high winds kicked up huge waves. ▪ The service in the restaurant wasn't very good, but we decided not to kick up a fuss/stink [=complain] about it.
kick up your heels
US informal : to relax and enjoy yourself : to have a good and lively time ▪ After exams were over, the students had a little time to kick up their heels.
kick yourself
informal : to blame or criticize yourself for something you have done ▪ You've got to stop kicking yourself. It wasn't your fault that the project failed. ▪ He was kicking himself for having forgotten the meeting. ▪ He could have kicked himself [=he was very angry at himself] when he realized that he had forgotten the meeting.