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.
Football. to score (a field goal or a conversion) by place-kicking or drop-kicking the ball.
Informal. to make (a car) increase in speed, especially in auto racing: He kicked his car into high gear.
to strike in recoiling: The gun kicked his shoulder.
Slang. to give up or break (a drug addiction): Has he kicked the habit?
Poker. raise (def. 24).
Chiefly South Atlantic States. to reject as a suitor; jilt: He courted her for two years—then she kicked him.
verb (used without object)
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. to 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.
noun
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.
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. a pocket: He kept his wallet in his side kick.
kicks,Slang. shoe (def. 1).
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 called punt, kick-up .an indentation at the base of a wine bottle, originally for trapping the sediment.
Verb Phrases
kick about,to move from place to place frequently: He kicked about a good deal before settling down.
kick around,Informal.
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.
kick back,
to recoil, especially vigorously or unexpectedly.
Informal.to give someone a kickback.
Slang.to return (stolen property, money, etc.) to the owner.
to relax: Let's just kick back and enjoy the weekend.
kick in,
to contribute one's share, especially in money.
Slang.to die.
to become operational; activate; go into effect: The air conditioning kicks in when the temperature reaches 80°F.
kick off,
Football.to begin play or begin play again by a kickoff: The Giants won the toss and elected to kick off.
Slang.to die.
to initiate (an undertaking, meeting, etc.); begin: A rally tomorrow night will kick off the campaign.
kick 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.
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.
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.
kick 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.
(especially of a machine part) to move rapidly upward: The lever kicks up, engaging the gear.
kip5 (def. 2).
Idioms for kick
kick ass, Slang: Vulgar.
to act harshly or use force in order to gain a desired result.
to defeat soundly.
Also Slang, kick butt .
kick in the ass, Slang: Vulgar. kick (def. 35a).
kick 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.
kick (def. 36).
kick in the teeth, an abrupt, often humiliating setback; rebuff: Her refusal even to talk to me was a kick in the teeth.
kick over the traces. trace2 (def. 3).
kick the bucket, Slang. bucket (def. 15).
kick the tin, Australian. to give a donation; contribute.
kick upstairs.upstairs (def. 8).
Origin of kick
1350–1400; Middle English kiken (v.); origin uncertain
SYNONYMS FOR kick
1 boot.
11 remonstrate; oppose.
11, 16 grumble, growl, grouch, moan; protest.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR kick ON THESAURUS.COM
OTHER WORDS FROM kick
kick·a·ble,adjectivekickless,adjectiveoutkick,verb (used with object)o·ver·kick,verb (used with object)