kick
15 ENTRIES FOUND:
kicks;
kicked;
kicking
kicks;
kicked;
kicking
Britannica Dictionary definition of KICK
1
a
[+ object]
:
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
— often used figuratively
[+ object]
-
The baby kicked his legs in the air.
-
The swimming instructor reminded the children to kick their legs as they swam.
[no object]
-
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.
-
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
[+ object]
sports
:
to score (a goal) by kicking a ball
-
He kicked the winning field goal.
3
[+ object]
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 object]
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.
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
—
see also kick-ass
-
We got our asses kicked [=we lost badly] in the last game.
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.
kick off
[phrasal verb]
1
:
to start play in a game (such as American football or soccer) by kicking the ball
—
see also kickoff
-
Jones will kick off from the 30-yard line.
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.
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.
2
kick
/ˈkɪk/
noun
plural
kicks
2
kick
/ˈkɪk/
noun
plural
kicks
Britannica Dictionary definition of KICK
[count]
1
a
:
an act of hitting someone or something with your foot
:
a sudden forceful movement with your foot
-
He gave me a kick in the leg.
-
If you give the machine a little kick, it should start working again.
b
:
an act of hitting a ball with your foot
—
see also corner kick, dropkick, free kick, penalty kick, placekick
-
a soccer kick
-
a long kick in football
2
a
:
a sudden forceful movement
— usually singular
-
I felt the kick of the engine when it started.
-
The rifle has a powerful kick.
b
informal
:
a quality that produces a sudden powerful effect
— usually singular
-
The drink has a kick [=a strong effect from alcohol] to it.
-
chili with a kick [=a very hot and spicy flavor]
3
informal
:
a feeling or source of pleasure
-
She gets a kick out of watching old movies. [=she enjoys watching old movies]
-
I got a kick out of seeing her again. = Seeing her again was a kick.
-
We play for kicks [=for enjoyment], not for money.
-
He gets his kicks from embarrassing his teammates. [=he enjoys embarrassing his teammates]
4
informal
— used with on to say that someone is doing a lot of something for usually a brief period of time
-
He's been on a health-food kick lately. [=he has been eating a lot of health food lately]
5
:
an increase in speed at the end of the race
-
a runner who has a strong finishing kick
a kick in the teeth
informal
:
something that is very shocking and disappointing
-
Losing that game was a real kick in the teeth.
