kick1

Pronunciation: /kɪk/

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Definition of kick

verb

1 [with object and adverbial] strike or propel forcibly with the foot:police kicked down the door [with object and complement]:he kicked the door open
[no object] strike out with the foot or feet:she kicked out at him [with object]:he kicked his feet free of a vine
(chiefly in rugby) score (a goal) by a kick: Wray kicked 11 points

2 [with object] informal succeed in giving up (a habit or addiction): I made a New Year resolution to kick the habit she was trying to kick heroin

3 [no object] (of a gun) recoil when fired: their guns kick so hard that they have developed a bad case of flinching

noun

1a blow or forceful thrust with the foot:a kick in the head
(in sport) an instance of striking the ball with the foot:Scott’s kick went wide of the goal
British (chiefly in rugby) a player of specified kicking ability.

2 [in singular] a sudden forceful jolt:the shuttle accelerated with a kick
the recoil of a gun when discharged.
Billiards & Snooker an irregular movement of the ball caused by dust: he suffered a kick on the pink in frame four

3 informal the sharp stimulant effect of alcohol or a drug: strong stuff, this brew: he felt the kick
a thrill of pleasurable, often reckless excitement:rich kids turning to crime just for kicks I get such a kick out of driving a racing car
[with modifier] a temporary interest in a particular thing:the jogging kick

4 (kicks) informal, chiefly US soft sports shoes; trainers:a pair of basketball kicks

Phrases

kick against the pricks: see prick.
kick (some) ass (or butt): North American vulgar slang act in a forceful or aggressive manner.
kick someone's ass (or butt): North American vulgar slang punish, dominate, or defeat someone.
a kick at the can (or cat): Canadian informal an opportunity to achieve something.
kick the bucket: informal die: when the old girl finally kicked the bucket there was no mention of yours truly in the will
kick one's heels: see heel¹.
a kick in the pants (or up the backside): informal an unwelcome surprise that prompts fresh effort:the competition will be healthy—we need a kick in the pants
kick someone in the pants (or up the backside): informal prompt someone to make fresh effort.
a kick in the teeth: informal a grave setback or disappointment: this broken promise is a kick in the teeth for football
kick someone in the teeth: informal cause someone a grave setback or disappointment: there are times when life kicks you in the teeth
kick something into touch: British informal reject something firmly: the manager has kicked into touch suggestions that he will be sacrificed to make way for a newcomer
[with reference to rugby, the ball in touch being out of play]
kick oneself: be annoyed with oneself for doing something foolish or missing an opportunity: he was kicking himself for not biding his time
kick over the traces: see trace².
kick the shit out of: vulgar slangsee shit.
kick someone/thing to the curb: North American informal reject or cast aside:things get complicated for Alfie when he’s kicked to the curb by his girlfriend
kick up a fuss (or a stink): informal object loudly or publicly to something: local people are kicking up a fuss about the noise and smells from the farm
kick up one's heels: see heel¹.
kick someone upstairs: informal remove someone from an influential position by giving them an ostensible promotion: he’ll be kicked upstairs for a year or so before taking early retirement
kick someone when they are down: cause further misfortune to someone who is already in a difficult situation: he did not believe in the doctrine that you did not kick a man when he was down

Phrasal Verbs

kick against: protest against or resist (something): young people are supposed to kick against the establishment
kick around (or about): (of a thing) lie unwanted or unexploited:the idea has been kicking around for over a year; (of a person) drift idly from place to place: I kicked around picking up odd jobs
kick someone around: treat someone roughly or without respect: they can’t kick me around
kick something around (or about): discuss a proposal informally: they had begun to kick around the idea of sending a man into space
kick back: North American informal be at leisure; relax: he has not been able to kick back and enjoy his success
kick down: British change quickly into a lower gear in a car with an automatic transmission by a sudden full depression of the accelerator.
kick in: come into effect or operation:the hospital’s emergency generators kicked in
kick something in: North American informal contribute something, especially money: if you subscribe now we’ll kick in a bonus
kick off
kick someone out: informal expel or dismiss someone: as a child he was kicked out of school
kick up: (of the wind) become stronger: we were warned that the winds might kick up by mid-morning

Derivatives

kickable

Origin:

late Middle English: of unknown origin

kick in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of kick in the US English dictionary

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Other

verb

noun

Phrases

kick against the pricks

kick (some) ass (or butt)

kick someone's ass (or butt)

a kick at the can (or cat)

kick the bucket

kick one's heels

a kick in the pants (or up the backside)

kick someone in the pants (or up the backside)

a kick in the teeth

kick someone in the teeth

kick something into touch

kick oneself

kick over the traces

kick the shit out of

kick someone/thing to the curb

kick up a fuss (or a stink)

kick up one's heels

kick someone upstairs

kick someone when they are down

Phrasal Verbs

kick against

kick around (or about)

kick someone around

kick something around (or about)

kick back

kick down

kick in

kick something in

kick off

kick someone out

kick up

Derivatives

kickable

Origin:

kick in other Oxford dictionaries

Nearby words

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