Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

kick

1 verb
     
kick
kick1 S2 W3 [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

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 somebody'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 [= 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
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 [= chip in]:
Bill never wants to kick in.
We were each asked to kick in 50 cents toward the cost.
3

kick somebody'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 [= throw out]:
Bernard's wife kicked him out.
kick somebody ↔ out of
He was kicked out of the golf club.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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