kick

Universal Words verb, noun verb 1 [often +adv./prep.] to hit sb/sth with your foot: [VN] She was punched and kicked by her attackers. * The boys were kicking a ball around in the yard. * Vandals had kicked the door down. * [V] Stop kicking-it hurts! [also VN-ADJ] 2 to move your legs as if you were kicking sth: [VN] The dancers kicked their legs in the air. * [V] The child was dragged away, kicking and screaming. 3 [VN] ~ yourself (informal) to be annoyed with yourself because you have done sth stupid, missed an opportunity, etc: He'll kick himself when he finds out he could have had the job. 4 [VN] (in sports such as football and rugby) to score points by kicking the ball: to kick a penalty / goal IDIOMS kick (some / sb's) ass (slang, especially AmE) to punish or defeat sb kick the bucket (informal or humorous) to die kick the habit, drug, booze, etc. to stop doing sth harmful that you have done for a long time kick your heels (BrE) to have nothing to do while you are waiting for sb/sth: We were kicking our heels, waiting for some customers. kick sb in the teeth to treat sb badly or fail to give them help when they need it kick over the traces (old-fashioned, BrE) to start to behave badly and refuse to accept any discipline or control kick up a fuss, stink, etc. (informal) to complain loudly about sth: They'll usually give you your money back if you threaten to kick up a stink. kick up your heels (informal, especially AmE) to be relaxed and enjoy yourself kick sb upstairs (informal) to move sb to a job that seems to be more important but which actually has less power or influence kick sb when they're down to continue to hurt sb when they are already defeated, etc. moreatALIVE, HELL PHRASALVERBS kick about / around (informal) 1 (usually used in the progressive tenses) to be lying somewhere not being used: There's a pen kicking around on my desk somewhere. 2 to go from one place to another with no particular purpose: They spent the summer kicking around Europe. kick sb around (informal) to treat sb in a rough or unfair way: She'd had enough of being kicked around by her boss. kick sth about / around (informal) to discuss an idea, a plan, etc. in an informal way: We'll kick some ideas around and make a decision tomorrow. kick against sth to protest about or resist sth: Young people often kick against the rules. kick back (especially AmE) to relax: Kick back and enjoy the summer. kick in (informal) 1 to begin to take effect: Reforms will kick in later this year. 2 (also kick in sth) (both AmE) to give your share of money or help kick off when a football game or a team, etc. kicks off, the game starts relatednounKICK-OFF kick off (with sth) (informal) to start: What time shall we kick off? * Tom will kick off with a few comments. relatednounKICK-OFF kick sth<->off to remove sth by kicking: to kick off your shoes kick off sth to start a discussion, a meeting, an event, etc. kick out (at sb/sth) 1 to try to hit sb/sth with your legs because you are angry or upset 2 to react violently to sb/sth that makes you angry or upset kick sb out (of sth) (informal) to make sb leave or go away (from somewhere) kick up (especially AmE) (of wind or a storm) to become stronger kick sth<->up to make sth, especially dust, rise from the ground noun 1 a movement with the foot or the leg, usually to hit sth with the foot: the first kick of the game * She gave him a kick on the shin. * He aimed a kick at the dog. * If the door won't open, give it a kick. * (slang) She needs a kick up the backside (= she needs to be strongly encouraged to do sth or to behave better). seealsoFREEKICK 2 (informal) a strong feeling of excitement and pleasure: I get a kick out of driving fast cars. * He gets his kicks from skiing. * What do you do for kicks? 3 [usuallysing.] (informal) the strong effect that a drug or an alcoholic drink has: This drink has quite a kick. IDIOMS a kick in the teeth (informal) a great disappointment; sth that hurts sb/sth: The job losses are a kick in the teeth for the union.