kick
[verb]
Synonyms:
- boot, punt
- give up, abandon, desist from, leave off, quit, stop
[noun]
Synonyms:
- thrill, buzz (slang), pleasure, stimulation

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Related Idioms: put up a fight (against)
Related Words: combat, fight, oppose, resist, withstand, anathematize, condemn, curse, damn, execrate

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. kick¹ S2 W3 /kɪk/ verb [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 (also 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 sb’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 Synonym : 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 American English
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 Synonym : chip in:
Bill never wants to kick in.
We were each asked to kick in 50 cents toward the cost.

3. kick sb’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 Synonym : throw out:
Bernard’s wife kicked him out.
kick somebody ↔ out of
He was kicked out of the golf club.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. kick² S3 noun [countable]

1. a movement of your foot or leg, usually to hit something with your foot:
Brazil scored with the last kick of the match.
Rory aimed a kick at her leg and missed.
kung fu kicks
If the door won’t open, just give it a good kick.

2. the act of kicking the ball in a sports game such as football, or the ball that is kicked and the direction it goes in:
Benjamin struck a post with an overhead kick.
free/penalty kick (=an opportunity, allowed by the rules, for a player in one team to kick the ball without being stopped by the other team)
Pearce came forward to take the free kick.

3. something that you enjoy because it is exciting Synonym : thrill
get a kick out of/from (doing) something
Gerald gets a kick out of dressing as a woman.
give somebody a kick
It gives her a kick to get you into trouble.
do something (just) for kicks
She used to steal from shops for kicks.

4. a kick up the arse/backside/pants etc informal criticism or strong encouragement to make someone do something they should have done:
What Phil needs is a good kick up the arse.

5. a kick in the teeth informal something that is very disappointing or upsetting that happens when you need support:
This broken promise is a real kick in the teeth for our fans.

6. a kick informal used to talk about the strong effect of a drink or drug or the strong taste that some food has:
The wine had a real kick.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

kick
noun
I. act of kicking
ADJ. good, hard, hefty, painful | corner, free, goal, overhead, penalty, spot (all in football) | high an energetic performer using dance routines and high kicks
VERB + KICK give sb/sth Give the door a good kick if it won't open.
get, receive He had received a painful kick on the knee.
PREP. ~ at a kick at goal
~ by/from a kick from Maynard in the last minute of the game
~ in a kick in the stomach
~ on a kick on the ankle
~ to a kick to the ribs

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

kick
II. feeling of great pleasure/excitement
ADJ. real
VERB + KICK get He gets a real kick out of mending something so that it can be used again.
give sb It gave the youngsters a kick to see their own play on television.
PREP. for ~s They don't really want the things they steal. They just do it for kicks.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

kick
verb
I. hit sb/sth with your foot
ADV. hard, savagely, vigorously Don't kick the ball too hard.
deliberately | repeatedly Foster admitted punching and kicking the man repeatedly.
around The boys were kicking a ball around in the yard.
PREP. against She could feel the baby kicking against her stomach wall. (figurative) Young people often kick against convention.
at She kicked at the loose pebbles by the roadside.
in They threw him to the ground and kicked him hard in the stomach.
on She kicked me on the knee.
PHRASES kick a door down/open/shut Suddenly the far door was kicked open.
kick sb to death

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

kick
II. move your feet in the air
ADV. frantically, wildly He rolled over in the sand, kicking wildly.
PREP. out at The horse kicked out at the yapping dog.
PHRASES drag sb kicking and screaming The police had to drag her kicking and screaming out of the house.
kick your legs/your legs kick The little boy was now lying on his back kicking his legs in the air. I was carried upstairs, arms waving and legs kicking.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

kick

give something a kick
The door was stuck; he gave it a kick.
get a kick
He got a kick on the ankles from Anne.
aim a kick at somebody/something
Lifting her foot, she aimed a kick at her brother.
a good kick (=a strong kick)
The only way to make the drinks dispenser work is to give it a good kick.
a hard kick
A hard kick to the knee could cause a lot of damage.
a high kick (=when someone raises their foot high into the air)
The dance routine was full of high kicks.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

kick
kick (yourself)
if you say that you'll kick yourself when or if something happens, you mean that you will feel angry with yourself because you have done something stupid or missed an opportunity.
You'll kick yourself when I tell you who came in just after you left.

If I don't get one now and they've sold out by next week, I'll kick myself.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲