- kick
- kick1 [ kık ] verb ***1. ) intransitive or transitive to hit something or someone with your foot:Mom! Jimmy kicked me!Some children will bite and kick when they get angry.kick something open/closed/shut: Jerry kicked the door open.kick someone in the stomach/face/head etc.: She felt as if she had been kicked in the stomach.kick something around: A couple of children were kicking an empty tin can around.kick something to/toward/away from something: He kicked the bottle toward the dumpster and missed.a ) to hit a ball with your foot in a game such as soccer2. ) intransitive or transitive to move your legs as if you were kicking something:Take your baby's diaper off and let her kick a bit.3. ) transitive INFORMAL to stop doing something that is bad for you:kick the habit: Do you smoke and want to kick the habit?4. ) transitive to hit a horse's sides with your heels to make it move forward:Flora kicked her horse into a canter.be kicked upstairs INFORMALto be given a job or position that seems more important but has less powerkick (someone's) ass IMPOLITEto punish or defeat someone:If he gives you any problems, let me know and I'll kick his ass.kick (some) ass/butt IMPOLITEto show someone what you are capable of doing or achieving, especially in a very determined way:Let's get out there and kick some ass!kick the bucket HUMOROUSto diekick someone in the teeth INFORMALto upset someone or make them feel disappointed, especially when they are trying hard to achieve somethingkick the shit out of someone OFFENSIVEto attack someone physically in a very violent waykick someone when they are downto attack or criticize someone when they are already in a weak positionkick your heels BRITISHto waste time waiting for someone or somethingkick yourselfto be very annoyed because you have made a mistake, missed an opportunity, etc.:He kicked himself for not buying the house sooner.=> ALIVE, DRAG1,kick a`round phrasal verb INFORMAL1. ) transitive to discuss an idea or suggestion in an informal way:We kicked around a few ideas.2. ) transitive kick someone around to treat someone in an unkind and unfair way:He told the reporters they wouldn't be able to kick him around any more.3. ) intransitive if something is kicking around, you have it but you are not certain exactly where it is:There's a box of chocolates kicking around somewhere.a ) intransitive if ideas or suggestions are kicking around, they exist but no one is doing much about themb ) intransitive or transitive kick around something if people are kicking around, or kicking around a place, they are in that place without any definite plans:Two friends and I decided to kick around the beach for a few days.,kick `back phrasal verb intransitive INFORMALto relax:It was time to kick back and forget the worries of the day.,kick `in phrasal verb1. ) intransitive INFORMAL to start to have an effect:The medicine took some time to kick in.The new rules kicked in last year.2. ) intransitive or transitive AMERICAN to give something, especially money:Sweden has kicked in about $10 million for the aid package.kick someone's face/teeth/head into hurt someone badly by kicking them:The hoodlums kicked Jones's teeth in before making off with his money.kick the door into break a door by kicking it:When the police came, they had to kick the door in to get into the apartment.,kick `off phrasal verb1. ) intransitive or transitive INFORMAL to begin, or to begin something:The show kicks off this week in San Francisco.kick off with: I'd like to kick off with a quick look at last month's sales figures.2. ) transitive to make your shoes come off by shaking your feet:Phyllis kicked off her sandals.3. ) intransitive when a football game kicks off, a player starts it by kicking the ball:The game kicks off at 7:30.4. ) transitive kick someone off something INFORMAL to force someone to leave a place or activity:He was kicked off the golf course for swearing.,kick `out phrasal verb transitive INFORMALto force someone to leave a place or organization:kick someone out of something: Sonia was kicked out of her house.,kick `up phrasal verb transitivekick up something to make something go up into the air:The storm kicked up waves big enough to damage homes.kick up a fuss/stink/argument INFORMALto complain very angrily about someone or something:The decision was changed after he kicked up a fuss.kickkick 2 [ kık ] noun **1. ) count a hit with your foot:Lifting her foot, she aimed a kick at George.give someone/something a kick: Bobby gave the door a good kick.a kick in the face/jaw/teeth etc.: Fowler received a kick in the face that broke his jaw.take a kick at someone: One man took a running kick at a police officer.a ) an act of kicking a ball in a game:He missed an easy kick for three points.b ) a sudden movement of your leg forward and upwards, especially in a dance:the high kicks of the cancan2. ) singular INFORMAL a feeling of excitement or pleasure:He told the interviewer that to play Hamlet was a real kick for him.get a kick out of/from something: I get a real kick out of seeing my children do well in school.do something for kicks: I just play the banjo for kicks I'm not very good at it.a ) get your kicks from something INFORMAL to do something, especially something bad, because it gives you a feeling of excitement:He got his kicks from skydiving.a kick in the teeth/stomach/guts INFORMALsomething that makes you feel very disappointed or upset, especially when you have been trying hard to achieve something:He described the court's decision as a kick in the teeth to the people of Pittsburgh.
Usage of the words and phrases in modern English. 2013.