kick
♦♦ kick /k'ɪk/ (kicks kicking kicked)
1 [VERB] V n, V, V n with adj, V n in n, V n to n
If you kick someone or something, you hit them forcefully with your foot.
He kicked the door hard...
He threw me to the ground and started to kick...
He escaped by kicking open the window...
The fiery actress kicked him in the shins...
An ostrich can kick a man to death.
[N-COUNT]
Kick is also a noun.
He suffered a kick to the knee.
2 [VERB] V n, V n with adv, V n prep
When you kick a ball or other object, you hit it with your foot so that it moves through the air.
I went to kick the ball and I completely missed it...
He kicked the ball away...
A furious player kicked his racket into the grandstand.
[N-COUNT]
Kick is also a noun.
Schmeichel swooped to save the first kick from Borisov.
3 [VERB] V, V n, V n adv/prep, also V prep
If you kick or if you kick your legs, you move your legs with very quick, small, and forceful movements, once or repeatedly.
They were dragged away struggling and kicking...
First he kicked the left leg, then he kicked the right...
He kicked his feet away from the window.
[PHRASAL VERB] V P
Kick out means the same as kick.
As its rider tried to free it, the horse kicked out.
4 [VERB] V n, V n adj
If you kick your legs, you lift your legs up very high one after the other, for example when you are dancing.
He was kicking his legs like a Can Can dancer...
She begins dancing, kicking her legs high in the air.
5 [VERB] V n
If you kick a habit, you stop doing something that is bad for you and that you find difficult to stop doing. (INFORMAL)
She's kicked her drug habit and learned that her life has value...
6 [N-SING] a N
If something gives you a kick, it makes you feel very excited or very happy for a short period of time. (INFORMAL)
I got a kick out of seeing my name in print.
7 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you say that someone kicks you when you are down, you think they are behaving unfairly because they are attacking you when you are in a weak position.
In the end I just couldn't kick Jimmy when he was down.
8 [PHRASE] PHR after v
If you say that someone does something for kicks, you mean that they do it because they think it will be exciting. (INFORMAL)
They made a few small bets for kicks.
9 [PHRASE] PHR after v, oft PHR into n/-ing
If you say that someone is dragged kicking and screaming into a particular course of action, you are emphasizing that they are very unwilling to do what they are being made to do.
He had to be dragged kicking and screaming into action.
10 [PHRASE] usu v-link PHR, PHR after v
If you describe an event as a kick in the teeth, you are emphasizing that it is very disappointing and upsetting. (INFORMAL)
We've been struggling for years and it's a real kick in the teeth to see a new band make it ahead of us.
= setback
11 [PHRASE] V inflects
You use kick yourself in expressions such as I could have kicked myself and you're going to kick yourself to indicate that you were annoyed or are going to be annoyed that you got something wrong.
I was still kicking myself for not paying attention...
12
alive and kicking: see alive
to kick up a fuss: see fussfree kick (free kicks)
[N-COUNT]
In a game of football, when there is a free kick, the ball is given to a member of one side to kick because a member of the other side has broken a rule.kick around
[PHRASAL VERB] V n P, V P n (not pron)
If you kick around ideas or suggestions, you discuss them informally. (INFORMAL)
We kicked a few ideas around...
They started to kick around the idea of an electric scraper.kick back
[PHRASAL VERB] V P
If you kick back, you relax. (mainly AM INFORMAL)
As soon as they've finished up, they kick back and wait for the next show.kick box|ing
also kickboxing
[N-UNCOUNT]
Kick boxing is a type of boxing in which the opponents are allowed to kick as well as punch each other.kick down
or kick in
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
If someone kicks something down or if they kick it in, they hit it violently with their foot so that it breaks or falls over.
She was forced to kick down the front door...
= break down, smash downkick in
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P
If something kicks in, it begins to take effect.
As discounts kicked in, bookings for immediate travel rose by 15%...
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron)
If someone kicks in a particular amount of money, they provide that amount of money to help pay for something. (AM)
Kansas City area churches kicked in $35,000 to support the event...
see also kick down
= contributekick off
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P
In football, when the players kick off, they start a game by kicking the ball from the centre of the pitch.
Liverpool kicked off an hour ago.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P n (not pron), V P with n, also V n P
If an event, game, series, or discussion kicks off, or is kicked off, it begins.
The shows kick off on October 24th...
The Mayor kicked off the party...
We kicked off with a slap-up dinner.
3 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
If you kick off your shoes, you shake your feet so that your shoes come off.
She stretched out on the sofa and kicked off her shoes.
4 [PHRASAL VERB] V n P n, also V n P
To kick someone off an area of land means to force them to leave it. (INFORMAL)
We can't kick them off the island.kick out
[PHRASAL VERB] V n P of n, V n P, also V P n (not pron)
To kick someone out of a place means to force them to leave it. (INFORMAL)
The country's leaders kicked five foreign journalists out of the country...
Her family kicked her out.
see also kick 3
= throw outkick up
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron)
If you kick up a fuss about something, you make it very obvious that you are annoyed or dissatisfied.
Those customers who have kicked up a fuss have received refunds...
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron)
If you kick up dust or dirt, you create a cloud of dust or dirt as you move along a dusty road.
She shuffled along, kicking up clouds of dust.
= stir up
1 [VERB] V n, V, V n with adj, V n in n, V n to n
If you kick someone or something, you hit them forcefully with your foot.
He kicked the door hard...
He threw me to the ground and started to kick...
He escaped by kicking open the window...
The fiery actress kicked him in the shins...
An ostrich can kick a man to death.
[N-COUNT]
Kick is also a noun.
He suffered a kick to the knee.
2 [VERB] V n, V n with adv, V n prep
When you kick a ball or other object, you hit it with your foot so that it moves through the air.
I went to kick the ball and I completely missed it...
He kicked the ball away...
A furious player kicked his racket into the grandstand.
[N-COUNT]
Kick is also a noun.
Schmeichel swooped to save the first kick from Borisov.
3 [VERB] V, V n, V n adv/prep, also V prep
If you kick or if you kick your legs, you move your legs with very quick, small, and forceful movements, once or repeatedly.
They were dragged away struggling and kicking...
First he kicked the left leg, then he kicked the right...
He kicked his feet away from the window.
[PHRASAL VERB] V P
Kick out means the same as kick.
As its rider tried to free it, the horse kicked out.
4 [VERB] V n, V n adj
If you kick your legs, you lift your legs up very high one after the other, for example when you are dancing.
He was kicking his legs like a Can Can dancer...
She begins dancing, kicking her legs high in the air.
5 [VERB] V n
If you kick a habit, you stop doing something that is bad for you and that you find difficult to stop doing. (INFORMAL)
She's kicked her drug habit and learned that her life has value...
6 [N-SING] a N
If something gives you a kick, it makes you feel very excited or very happy for a short period of time. (INFORMAL)
I got a kick out of seeing my name in print.
7 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you say that someone kicks you when you are down, you think they are behaving unfairly because they are attacking you when you are in a weak position.
In the end I just couldn't kick Jimmy when he was down.
8 [PHRASE] PHR after v
If you say that someone does something for kicks, you mean that they do it because they think it will be exciting. (INFORMAL)
They made a few small bets for kicks.
9 [PHRASE] PHR after v, oft PHR into n/-ing
If you say that someone is dragged kicking and screaming into a particular course of action, you are emphasizing that they are very unwilling to do what they are being made to do.
He had to be dragged kicking and screaming into action.
10 [PHRASE] usu v-link PHR, PHR after v
If you describe an event as a kick in the teeth, you are emphasizing that it is very disappointing and upsetting. (INFORMAL)
We've been struggling for years and it's a real kick in the teeth to see a new band make it ahead of us.
= setback
11 [PHRASE] V inflects
You use kick yourself in expressions such as I could have kicked myself and you're going to kick yourself to indicate that you were annoyed or are going to be annoyed that you got something wrong.
I was still kicking myself for not paying attention...
12
alive and kicking: see alive
to kick up a fuss: see fussfree kick (free kicks)
[N-COUNT]
In a game of football, when there is a free kick, the ball is given to a member of one side to kick because a member of the other side has broken a rule.kick around
[PHRASAL VERB] V n P, V P n (not pron)
If you kick around ideas or suggestions, you discuss them informally. (INFORMAL)
We kicked a few ideas around...
They started to kick around the idea of an electric scraper.kick back
[PHRASAL VERB] V P
If you kick back, you relax. (mainly AM INFORMAL)
As soon as they've finished up, they kick back and wait for the next show.kick box|ing
also kickboxing
[N-UNCOUNT]
Kick boxing is a type of boxing in which the opponents are allowed to kick as well as punch each other.kick down
or kick in
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
If someone kicks something down or if they kick it in, they hit it violently with their foot so that it breaks or falls over.
She was forced to kick down the front door...
= break down, smash downkick in
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P
If something kicks in, it begins to take effect.
As discounts kicked in, bookings for immediate travel rose by 15%...
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron)
If someone kicks in a particular amount of money, they provide that amount of money to help pay for something. (AM)
Kansas City area churches kicked in $35,000 to support the event...
see also kick down
= contributekick off
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P
In football, when the players kick off, they start a game by kicking the ball from the centre of the pitch.
Liverpool kicked off an hour ago.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P n (not pron), V P with n, also V n P
If an event, game, series, or discussion kicks off, or is kicked off, it begins.
The shows kick off on October 24th...
The Mayor kicked off the party...
We kicked off with a slap-up dinner.
3 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
If you kick off your shoes, you shake your feet so that your shoes come off.
She stretched out on the sofa and kicked off her shoes.
4 [PHRASAL VERB] V n P n, also V n P
To kick someone off an area of land means to force them to leave it. (INFORMAL)
We can't kick them off the island.kick out
[PHRASAL VERB] V n P of n, V n P, also V P n (not pron)
To kick someone out of a place means to force them to leave it. (INFORMAL)
The country's leaders kicked five foreign journalists out of the country...
Her family kicked her out.
see also kick 3
= throw outkick up
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron)
If you kick up a fuss about something, you make it very obvious that you are annoyed or dissatisfied.
Those customers who have kicked up a fuss have received refunds...
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron)
If you kick up dust or dirt, you create a cloud of dust or dirt as you move along a dusty road.
She shuffled along, kicking up clouds of dust.
= stir up