I. kick 1 S2 W3 /kɪk/ BrE AmE verb [intransitive and transitive]
1 . to hit something with your foot
kick something down/over/around etc
Billy was kicking a ball around the yard.
The police kicked the door down.
kick somebody in the stomach/face/shin etc
There was a scuffle and he kicked me in the stomach.
2 . to move your legs as if you were kicking something:
He kicked off his shoes and lay back on the bed.
a row of dancers kicking their legs in the air
A horse trotted past, kicking up dust from the road.
3 . kick yourself spoken used to say that you are annoyed with yourself because you have done something silly, made a mistake etc:
You’ll kick yourself when I tell you the answer.
United will be kicking themselves for missing several chances.
4 . kick the habit to stop doing something that is a harmful habit, such as smoking, taking drugs etc:
The scheme helps smokers to kick the habit.
5 . kick somebody when they are down to criticize or attack someone who is already in a weak or difficult position:
The media can’t resist kicking a man when he’s down.
6 . kick somebody in the teeth ( also kick somebody in the stomach/pants American English ) informal to disappoint someone or treat them badly at a time when they need help:
We all have times when life kicks us in the teeth.
7 . kick sb’s ass/butt American English informal not polite to punish or defeat someone:
We’re gonna kick San Francisco’s ass good tonight.
8 . kick ass American English informal not polite used to say that someone or something is very good or impressive:
Tucson pop band Shoebomb kick some serious ass.
9 . kick your heels British English to waste time waiting for something:
We were left kicking our heels for half the day.
10 . kick up your heels to enjoy yourself a lot at a party, event etc:
The charity ball is a chance to kick up your heels and help a good cause.
11 . kick something into touch British English informal to stop a plan or project before it is completed:
A hitch resulted in the deal being kicked firmly into touch.
12 . kick up a fuss/stink/row informal to complain loudly about something:
Won’t he kick up a fuss when he discovers they’re missing?
13 . kicking and screaming protesting violently or being very unwilling to do something:
The London Stock Exchange was dragged kicking and screaming into the 20th century.
14 . kick the shit out of somebody informal not polite to hurt someone very badly by kicking them many times
15 . kick against the pricks British English informal to hurt or damage yourself by trying to change something that cannot be changed
16 . kick somebody upstairs to move someone to a new job that seems to be more important than their last one, but that actually gives them less influence
17 . be kicking (it) American English spoken to be relaxing and having a good time:
I was just kicking with my buddies.
18 . be kicking it American English spoken to be having a romantic or sexual relationship with someone
be kicking it with
My sources say that she was kicking it with Thomas while she was on tour.
19 . kick over the traces British English old-fashioned to start behaving badly by refusing to accept any control or rules
20 . kick the bucket old-fashioned to die – used humorously
kick (out) against something phrasal verb
to react strongly against something:
She has kicked out against authority all her life.
kick around phrasal verb
1 . kick something around to think about or discuss an idea before making a decision:
We kicked that suggestion around and in the end decided to go ahead.
2 . kick somebody around to treat someone badly and unfairly:
I have my pride, you know. They can’t kick me around.
3 . kick around (something) to be in a place doing things, but without any firm plans SYN knock around :
He kicked around India for a few months.
4 . to be left in a place untidily or forgotten:
There’s a copy of the report kicking around somewhere.
kick back phrasal verb American English
to relax:
Your waitress will take your order while you kick back and enjoy the game.
kick in phrasal verb
1 . informal to start or to begin to have an effect:
The storm is expected to kick in shortly after sunrise.
The painkillers kicked in and he became sleepy.
2 . kick in (something) to join with others in giving money or help SYN chip in :
Bill never wants to kick in.
We were each asked to kick in 50 cents toward the cost.
3 . kick sb’s head/face/teeth in to injure someone badly by kicking them:
He threatened to come round and kick my head in.
4 . kick a door in to kick a locked door so hard that it breaks open:
We had to get the police to kick the door in.
kick off phrasal verb
1 . if a meeting, event, or a football game kicks off, it starts:
What time does the laser show kick off?
The match kicks off at noon.
kick off with
The series kicked off with an interview with Brando.
2 . informal if you kick off a discussion, meeting, event etc, you start it:
OK Marion, would you care to kick off?
kick something ↔ off (with something)
I’m going to kick off today’s meeting with a few remarks about the budget.
3 . kick somebody off something informal to remove someone from a team or group:
Joe was kicked off the committee for stealing funds.
4 . American English informal to die
5 . British English spoken if a fight kicks off, people start fighting:
I think it might kick off in here with all these football fans around.
kick somebody ↔ out phrasal verb
to make someone leave a place, job etc SYN throw out :
Bernard’s wife kicked him out.
kick somebody ↔ out of
He was kicked out of the golf club.
II. kick 2 S3 BrE AmE noun [countable]
1 . a movement of your foot or leg, usually to hit something with your foot:
Brazil scored with the last kick of the match.
Rory aimed a kick at her leg and missed.
kung fu kicks
If the door won’t open, just give it a good kick.
2 . the act of kicking the ball in a sports game such as football, or the ball that is kicked and the direction it goes in:
Benjamin struck a post with an overhead kick.
free/penalty kick (=an opportunity, allowed by the rules, for a player in one team to kick the ball without being stopped by the other team)
Pearce came forward to take the free kick.
3 . something that you enjoy because it is exciting SYN thrill
get a kick out of/from (doing) something
Gerald gets a kick out of dressing as a woman.
give somebody a kick
It gives her a kick to get you into trouble.
do something (just) for kicks
She used to steal from shops for kicks.
4 . a kick up the arse/backside/pants etc informal criticism or strong encouragement to make someone do something they should have done:
What Phil needs is a good kick up the arse.
5 . a kick in the teeth informal something that is very disappointing or upsetting that happens when you need support:
This broken promise is a real kick in the teeth for our fans.
6 . a kick informal used to talk about the strong effect of a drink or drug or the strong taste that some food has:
The wine had a real kick.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ give something a kick
The door was stuck; he gave it a kick.
▪ get a kick
He got a kick on the ankles from Anne.
▪ aim a kick at somebody/something
Lifting her foot, she aimed a kick at her brother.
■ adjectives
▪ a good kick (=a strong kick)
The only way to make the drinks dispenser work is to give it a good kick.
▪ a hard kick
A hard kick to the knee could cause a lot of damage.
▪ a high kick (=when someone raises their foot high into the air)
The dance routine was full of high kicks.