kick
kick (kĭk) verb
kicked, kicking, kicks
verb, intransitive
1. To strike out with the foot or feet.
2. a. Sports. To score or gain ground by kicking a ball. b. Football. To punt.
3. To recoil: The high-powered rifle kicked upon being fired.
4. Informal. a. To express negative feelings vigorously; complain. b. To oppose by argument; protest. See synonyms at object.
verb, transitive
1. To strike with the foot.
2. To propel by striking with the foot.
3. To spring back against suddenly: The rifle kicked my shoulder when I fired it.
4. Sports. To score (a goal or point) by kicking a ball.
noun
1. a. A vigorous blow with the foot. b. Sports. The thrusting motion of the legs in swimming.
2. A jolting recoil: a rifle with a heavy kick.
3. Slang. A complaint; a protest.
4. Slang. Power; force: an old engine that still has lots of kick.
5. Slang. a. A feeling of pleasurable stimulation: got a kick out of the show. b. kicks Fun: Let's go to the show just for kicks.
6. Slang. Temporary, often obsessive interest: I'm on a science fiction kick.
7. Slang. A sudden, striking surprise; a twist.
8. Sports. a. The act or an instance of kicking a ball. b. A kicked ball. c. The distance spanned by a kicked ball.
phrasal verb.
kick around Informal
1. To treat badly; abuse.
2. To move from place to place: "spent the next three years in Italy, kicking around the country on a motor scooter" (Charles E. Claffey).
3. To give consideration or thought to (an idea).
kick back
1. To recoil unexpectedly and violently.
2. Slang. To return (stolen items).
3. Slang. To pay a kickback.
kick in
1. Informal. To contribute (one's share): kicked in a few dollars for the office party.
2. Slang. To die.
kick off
1. Sports. To begin or resume play with a kickoff.
2. Informal. To begin; start: kicked off the promotional tour with a press conference for the author.
3. Slang. To die.
kick out Slang
To throw out; dismiss. kick over
To begin to fire: The engine finally kicked over. kick up Informal
1. To increase in amount or force; intensify: A sandstorm kicked up while we drove through the desert.
2. To stir up (trouble): kicked up a row.
3. To show signs of disorder: His ulcer has kicked up again.
idiom.
kick the bucket Slang
To die.
kick the habit Slang
To free oneself of an addiction, as to narcotics or cigarettes.
kick up (one's) heels Informal
To cast off one's inhibitions and have a good time.
kick upstairs Slang
To promote to a higher yet less desirable position.
[Middle English kiken, perhaps of Scandinavian origin.]