— kickable , adj. — kickless , adj.
/kik/ , v.t.
1. to strike with the foot or feet: to kick the ball; to kick someone in the shins.
2. to drive, force, make, etc., by or as if by kicks.
3. Football. to score (a field goal or a conversion) by place-kicking or drop-kicking the ball.
4. Informal. to make (a car) increase in speed, esp. in auto racing: He kicked his car into high gear.
5. to strike in recoiling: The gun kicked his shoulder.
6. Slang. to give up or break (a drug addiction): Has he kicked the habit?
7. Poker. raise (def. 24).
8. Chiefly South Atlantic States. to reject as a suitor; jilt: He courted her for two years - then she kicked him.
v.i.
9. to make a rapid, forceful thrust with the foot or feet: He kicked at the ball. You have to kick rapidly when using a crawl stroke.
10. to have a tendency to strike with the foot or feet: That horse kicks when you walk into his stall.
11. Informal. to resist, object, or complain: What's he got to kick about?
12. to recoil, as a firearm when fired.
13. to be actively or vigorously involved: He's still alive and kicking.
14. kick about , to move from place to place frequently: He kicked about a good deal before settling down.
15. kick around , Informal.
a. to treat (someone) harshly or inconsiderately.
b. to consider, discuss, or speculate about (a proposal, project, etc.): We kicked around various ideas for raising money.
c. to experiment with.
d. to pass time idly; wander from place to place aimlessly: We just kicked around for a year after college.
e. to remain unused, unemployed, or unnoticed: The script has been kicking around for years.
16. kick ass , Slang ( vulgar ).
a. to act harshly or use force in order to gain a desired result.
b. to defeat soundly.
17. kick back ,
a. to recoil, esp. vigorously or unexpectedly.
b. Informal. to give someone a kickback.
c. Slang. to return (stolen property, money, etc.) to the owner.
d. to relax: Let's just kick back and enjoy the weekend.
18. kick in ,
a. to contribute one's share, esp. in money.
b. Slang. to die.
c. to become operational; activate; go into effect: The air conditioning kicks in when the temperature reaches 80°F.
19. kick off ,
a. Football. to begin play or begin play again by a kickoff: The Giants won the toss and elected to kick off.
b. Slang. to die.
c. to initiate (an undertaking, meeting, etc.); begin: A rally tomorrow night will kick off the campaign.
20. kick on , to switch on; turn on: He kicked on the motor and we began to move.
21. kick out , Informal.
a. to oust or eject: They have been kicked out of the country club.
b. to fail; give out: The power kicked out and the room went black.
c. to separate off, as for review or inspection: The computer kicked out the information in a split second.
d. Surfing. to turn a surfboard by shifting the weight to the rear, causing the surfboard to come down over the top of a wave, in order to stop a ride.
22. kick over , Informal. (of an internal-combustion engine) to begin ignition; turn over: The engine kicked over a few times but we couldn't get it started.
23. kick over the traces . See trace 2 (def. 3).
24. kick the bucket , Slang. See bucket (def. 11).
25. kick the tin , Australian. to give a donation; contribute.
26. kick up ,
a. to drive or force upward by kicking.
b. to stir up (trouble); make or cause (a disturbance, scene, etc.): They kicked up a tremendous row.
c. (esp. of a machine part) to move rapidly upward: The lever kicks up, engaging the gear.
27. kick upstairs . See upstairs (def. 5).
n.
28. the act of kicking; a blow or thrust with the foot or feet.
29. power or disposition to kick: That horse has a mean kick.
30. Informal. an objection or complaint.
31. Informal.
a. thrill; pleasurable excitement: His biggest kick comes from telling about the victory.
b. a strong but temporary interest, often an activity: Making mobiles is his latest kick.
32. Informal.
a. a stimulating or intoxicating quality in alcoholic drink.
b. vim, vigor, or energy.
33. Football.
a. an instance of kicking the ball.
b. any method of kicking the ball: place kick.
c. a kicked ball.
d. the distance such a ball travels.
e. a turn at kicking the ball.
34. a recoil, as of a gun.
35. Slang. a pocket: He kept his wallet in his side kick.
36. kicks , Slang. shoes.
37. Glassmaking.
a. a solid glass base or an indentation at the base of drinking glasses, bottles, etc., that reduces the liquid capacity of the glassware.
b. Also, punt . an indentation at the base of a wine bottle, originally for trapping the sediment.
38. kick in the ass , Slang ( vulgar ). See kick (def. 39a).
39. kick in the pants , Informal.
a. someone or something that is very exciting, enjoyable, amusing, etc.: I think you'll like her, she's a real kick in the pants.
b. See kick (def. 40).
40. kick in the teeth , an abrupt, often humiliating setback; rebuff: Her refusal even to talk to me was a kick in the teeth.
[ 1350-1400; ME kiken (v.); orig. uncert. ]
Syn. 1. boot. 11. remonstrate; oppose. 11, 30 . grumble, growl, grouch, moan; protest.