to strike with the foot or feet; to make a rapid, forceful move with the feet: [~ + object]to kick a ball.[no object]The baby was laughing and kicking in delight.
to drive, force, thrust, etc., by or as if by kicks:[~ + object]He kicked a hole in the door.
Sport[~ + object][Football.]to score (a field goal) by kicking the ball.
Slang Termsto give up or break (a drug addiction):[~ + object]He kicked his habit.
Informal Terms to resist, object, or complain:[no object]All she did was kick about her new job.
to recoil on firing:[no object]The heavy rifle kicked against his shoulder.
to be actively or vigorously involved:[no object]alive and kicking.
kick around:
[~ + object + around] to treat harshly:Don't kick the staff around like that.
to speculate about; discuss: [~ + around + object]We kicked around a few ideas.[~ + object + around]We kicked a few ideas around.
[no object] to move frequently from place to place; roam; wander:They kicked around for a few years, then settled down.
[no object] to linger or remain for a long interval without being used, noticed, or resolved:The old bike's just been kicking around in the garage.
Informal Termskick back:
[no object] to recoil:The gun kicked back hard against his shoulder.
to give someone a kickback: [~ + back + object]had to kick back some $30,000.[~ + object + back]Kick something back to the mob boss.
Informal Termskick in:
to contribute one's share: [~ + in + object]We kicked in a few dollars for the fund.[~ + object + in]We kicked a few dollars in.
[no object] to go into effect; become operational:Next year the new tax code kicks in.
kick off:
Sport[no object][Football.]to begin or resume play by a kickoff.
Slang Terms[no object]to die.
to start or begin (a project, undertaking, etc.): [~ + off + object]The company kicked off its ad campaign.[~ + object + off]They kicked it off with a great celebration.
kick out:
throw out; get rid of: [~ + out + object]The voters wanted to kick out all the do-nothing politicians.[~ + object + out]The voters want to kick them out.
Automotivekick over, (of an engine) to begin ignition; turn over; start: [no object]See if it will kick over.[~ + object + over]Kick the engine over.[~ + over + object]Kick over the engine.
kick up:
[~ + up + object] to stir up:spending more time kicking up trouble than working.
[no object] to become evident or active:My rheumatism is kicking up again.
to strike with the foot or feet:to kick the ball; to kick someone in the shins.
to drive, force, make, etc., by or as if by kicks.
Sport[Football.]to score (a field goal or a conversion) by place-kicking or drop-kicking the ball.
Informal Termsto make (a car) increase in speed, esp. in auto racing:He kicked his car into high gear.
British Termsto strike in recoiling:The gun kicked his shoulder.
Slang Termsto give up or break (a drug addiction):Has he kicked the habit?
Games[Poker.]raise (def. 24).
Dialect Terms[Chiefly South Atlantic States.]to reject as a suitor; jilt:He courted her for two years —then she kicked him.
v.i.
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.
to have a tendency to strike with the foot or feet:That horse kicks when you walk into his stall.
Informal Termsto resist, object, or complain:What's he got to kick about?
to recoil, as a firearm when fired.
to be actively or vigorously involved:He's still alive and kicking.
kick about, to move from place to place frequently:He kicked about a good deal before settling down.
Informal Termskick around:
to treat (someone) harshly or inconsiderately.
to consider, discuss, or speculate about (a proposal, project, etc.):We kicked around various ideas for raising money.
to experiment with.
to pass time idly; wander from place to place aimlessly:We just kicked around for a year after college.
to remain unused, unemployed, or unnoticed:The script has been kicking around for years.
Idiomskick ass, Slang (vulgar).
to act harshly or use force in order to gain a desired result.
to defeat soundly.
Informal Termskick back:
to recoil, esp. vigorously or unexpectedly.
[Informal.]to give someone a kickback.
Slang Termsto return (stolen property, money, etc.) to the owner.
to relax:Let's just kick back and enjoy the weekend.
Informal Termskick in:
to contribute one's share, esp. in money.
Slang Termsto die.
to become operational; activate; go into effect:The air conditioning kicks in when the temperature reaches 80°F.
Informal Termskick off:
Sport[Football.]to begin play or begin play again by a kickoff:The Giants won the toss and elected to kick off.
Slang Termsto die.
to initiate (an undertaking, meeting, etc.); begin:A rally tomorrow night will kick off the campaign.
Informal Termskick on, to switch on; turn on:He kicked on the motor and we began to move.
kick out, [Informal.]
to oust or eject:They have been kicked out of the country club.
to fail; give out:The power kicked out and the room went black.
to separate off, as for review or inspection:The computer kicked out the information in a split second.
Sport[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.
Automotivekick 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.
Informal Termskick over the traces. See trace2 (def. 3).
kick the bucket, [Slang.]See bucket (def. 11).
Informal Terms, Idiomskick the tin, [Australian.]to give a donation; contribute.
Informal Termskick up:
to drive or force upward by kicking.
to stir up (trouble); make or cause (a disturbance, scene, etc.):They kicked up a tremendous row.
(esp. of a machine part) to move rapidly upward:The lever kicks up, engaging the gear.
Informal Termskick upstairs. See upstairs (def. 5).
n.
the act of kicking; a blow or thrust with the foot or feet.
power or disposition to kick:That horse has a mean kick.
[Informal.]an objection or complaint.
[Informal.]
thrill; pleasurable excitement:His biggest kick comes from telling about the victory.
a strong but temporary interest, often an activity:Making mobiles is his latest kick.
[Informal.]
a stimulating or intoxicating quality in alcoholic drink.
vim, vigor, or energy.
Sport[Football.]
an instance of kicking the ball.
any method of kicking the ball:place kick.
a kicked ball.
the distance such a ball travels.
a turn at kicking the ball.
a recoil, as of a gun.
Slang Termsa pocket:He kept his wallet in his side kick.
Slang Termskicks, shoes.
Ceramics[Glassmaking.]
a solid glass base or an indentation at the base of drinking glasses, bottles, etc., that reduces the liquid capacity of the glassware.
Also, punt.an indentation at the base of a wine bottle, originally for trapping the sediment.
kick in the ass, Slang (vulgar). See kick (def. 39a).
Idiomskick in the pants, [Informal.]
someone or something that is very exciting, enjoyable, amusing, etc.:I think you'll like her, she's a real kick in the pants.
See kick (def. 40).
Idiomskick in the teeth, an abrupt, often humiliating setback; rebuff:Her refusal even to talk to me was a kick in the teeth.
1350–1400; Middle English kiken (verb, verbal); origin, originally uncertain
kick′a•ble, adj. kick′less, adj.
1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged boot.
11.See corresponding entry in Unabridged remonstrate; oppose.