| 释义 |
verb kɪkkɪk 1with object and adverbial Strike or propel forcibly with the foot. police kicked down the door with object and complement he kicked the door open Example sentencesExamples - If you like football, go out and kick a ball around with a few mates.
- All the doors had been kicked in and the office was in a real mess.
- The flight was terrible: the man sitting next to him snored and the child behind him kept kicking the back of his chair.
- He neared the goal and kicked the ball powerfully.
- Instead of asking young people to turn their music down or stop kicking a ball about, some residents get aggressive or call the police and that obviously makes things a lot worse.
- The garage door was kicked in, windows smashed and boards ripped apart in a concerted attack that must have lasted several minutes.
- When he reached the bedroom, he kicked the door open with his foot.
- The appeal follows a recent spate of vandalism where bins have been set alight, plant pots have been kicked over and garden furniture damaged.
- In the latest incident, the man was in bed asleep when his front door was kicked in.
- Witnesses later told detectives that they saw the men kicking what they thought was " a bundle of rags".
- She had kicked off her shoes at the beach and rolled up her jeans.
- Caine kicked the door open and hauled them both inside.
- He was kicked in the head after being attacked from behind in what police believe was an unprovoked attack.
- Mr Duncan, who lived opposite, pushed bystanders aside and kicked down the door.
- Finally the ball came down on the touchline and Levi was there in a second, kicking the ball into the goal.
- They cornered him and launched a brutal attack in which he was repeatedly kicked in the head as he lay on the ground.
- He laughed and I kicked his shin under the table.
- One of the protesters kicked a security official in the leg as she was taken out.
- They kicked down the door, dragged the women outside and went into the house.
- The 16-year-old loves nothing better than climbing trees and kicking a ball around with pals on a muddy playing field.
Synonyms boot, punt, strike with the foot propel, drive, knock, send Scottish blooter British informal put the boot into, welly - 1.1no object Strike out with the foot or feet.
with object and complement he kicked his feet free of a vine Example sentencesExamples - Donna winced in pain, and spinning round, kicked out at Mark's stomach, momentarily winding him.
- Hoyle and Bruce were spoken to by the referee after an altercation in midfield, but following the free kick Bruce kicked out at Hoyle in the penalty area.
- She gasped for breath, instinctively beginning to kick at him as hard as she could.
- He said that he had gone home and had an argument with his mother so he took out his frustration on parked cars, swinging his arms into wing mirrors and kicking out with his feet.
- Ellsia kicked at the table leg trying to release her violent frustration.
- Instinctively, he kicked out at the man with the bottle and then a full scale fight erupted in the bar.
- He kicked at the fire, sending up a shower of sparks.
- Before she could think, Valerie had swung her leg and kicked as hard as she could at the wooden chair Dev sat on, sending him tumbling onto the ground.
- Once inside the car, he kicked out at the interior door panels and windows, as well as spitting in the face of another police officer.
- One horse kicked out at him causing fatal injuries.
- She leaned back on one leg, kicking out with her foot.
- She kicked her feet weakly and tried to struggle free from his grasp.
- Prudence kicked as hard as she could as the men dragged her out of the vehicle and to the side of the road.
- Andreas turned around and kicked out at Justin, sending him staggering backwards to regain his balance.
- Acting on instinct, she kicked out at him, causing him to drop the knife.
- I shifted my weight and kicked out at one of them with my right boot, catching him on the hip and sending him sprawling.
- I latched the door, made sure it was secure, and kicked at it just to check.
- Frantically she kicked out at the form standing over her.
- She kicked out at the man who held her legs and broke free from his grasp.
- My advice to parents would be to encourage their children from as early an age as possible to kick with both feet.
- 1.2 (chiefly in rugby) score (a goal) by a kick.
Example sentencesExamples - Barking scored a penalty before Dave Lewis kicked a drop goal a minute later to put them 16-9 ahead.
- He not only kicked goals and engineered a string of openings but also scored the crucial opening try.
- Johnny Moroney, who played on the left wing, scored 14 points, kicking goals as well as scoring a try.
- He won a couple of hard balls in the forward line that were very important, kicked one goal himself and had a hand in a couple of others.
- Against Eaglehawk, they kicked nine goals in the second quarter to lead at half-time.
2informal with object Succeed in giving up (a habit or addiction) smokers may soon have new help to kick the habit she was trying to kick heroin Example sentencesExamples - But I also recognise that kicking addictions is terribly difficult, and the time of being admitted to hospital is not the time to try it.
- A cocaine vaccine developed by a UK pharmaceutical company could help cocaine addicts kick their habit.
- The more places help and support are available, the greater their chances of kicking the costly habit.
- The campaign, which urged people to embrace a vegetarian diet for healthy living and to kick the meat-eating habit, had attracted much attention.
- Somehow we got talking about the lottery and he told me he had just kicked the habit.
- I'm currently having terrible trouble kicking the smoking habit.
- For people trying to kick the cigarette habit, gums, patches, lollipops, and lip balms that contain nicotine are often useful.
- On any given day there are literally thousands of people trying to kick the smoking habit.
- It's National No-Smoking Day on Wednesday, a day when millions of tobacco addicts try to kick their unpleasant habit.
- Some people have said it's easier to withdraw from heroin than to kick the tobacco habit.
- Despite a promise to kick the nicotine habit, he has only managed to cut down from three packs a day to an almost respectable one.
- Each time he would promise to kick his crippling addictions to heroin and alcohol, but would lapse again almost immediately.
- Since his arrest he has been to Gamblers Anonymous sessions in Bristol in a bid to kick the spiralling habit.
- The fact is, it is not impossible to kick a nicotine addiction.
- They say promises to begin the New Year afresh by giving up smoking or junk food are broken so quickly we become convinced that kicking a bad habit is beyond our control.
- Arrested three times on drugs charges, he was finally forced to put his career on hold for a year while he kicked his habit.
- He is going into rehab to try to kick his addiction to prescription painkillers.
- In recent years he has kicked his bad habits, embraced marriage and fatherhood, and earned international acclaim as an elder statesman of rock.
- More than half the prisoners who signed up for a detox programme in the country's first drug-free unit have kicked the habit.
- As he neared the end of his three years and nine months sentence, he began to pick up the pieces of his life, kicking his addiction, getting a job and preparing to start again.
Synonyms give up, break, get out of, abandon, end, escape from stop, cease, leave off, desist from, renounce, forgo, do without, eschew informal shake, pack in, lay off, quit 3no object (of a gun) recoil when fired. their guns kick so hard that they have developed a bad case of flinching Example sentencesExamples - He fired another three shots from his rifle, feeling it kick back in his arms.
- You expect very small, very powerful guns to kick hard enough to hurt you.
- She pulled the trigger and the rifle kicked back.
- The rifle kicked against his shoulder and the thundering of musket fire grew louder.
- The gun kicked so hard, Bethany smacked herself in the forehead.
Synonyms recoil, spring back, fly back
noun kɪkkɪk 1A blow or forceful thrust with the foot. Example sentencesExamples - A more probable explanation for some injuries was that they were caused by blows and kicks.
- He was knocked out by a kick to the head.
- He threw me to the ground, finally releasing my hair, and delivered a swift kick to my stomach.
- His left arm was nearly useless, and he tried to shield it with his body, but a sudden kick into his side threw him to the right.
- I was gazing out of the window when I felt a sharp kick on the back of my chair.
- A post-mortem examination conducted by a Home Office pathologist has revealed he received a number of blows and possibly a number of kicks.
- Thomas aimed a kick and some punches at the victim before Buckley struck a single blow at the man.
- Suddenly, the group is upon him, delivering a number of punishing kicks and other blows
- A post-mortem examination revealed he died as a result of a single blow to the neck, probably a kick.
- He said the blows, kicks and punches continued even when he cowered on the floor with his hands protecting his head.
- He fell to the ground, hard, and had to curl himself into a ball as kicks were rained on his body.
- But when the paramedics tried to leave, two youths attacked them, raining kicks and blows down on their heads and ribs.
- Zhao said she fell to her knees, and then felt repeated kicks or blows to both sides of her head.
- Fighting broke out when one of the team physios aimed a karate kick at an opposing player.
- A four-minute video of the brawl was played which showed the Leeds players trading kicks and blows with Owen.
- Examples of abuse include punches, kicks, blows and partial suffocation by placing a rubber gas mask over the person's face.
- I tried the door one more time before giving it a good kick.
- There was one Cork player on the ground and a number of kicks were aimed at him.
- The colonel responded with a swift kick that sent him sprawling.
- Patrick walked forward and landed a kick to the side of Sam's head.
- 1.1 (in sport) an instance of striking the ball with the foot.
Scott's kick went wide of the goal Example sentencesExamples - A goal with the last kick of the ball, four minutes in to injury time, saw the score end up honours even at 4-4.
- They started on fire and an accurate cross kick from scrum half Barry Corbett put right winger Jon Cole in for an early unconverted try.
- With a brilliant kick from the touchline Cooke ended the scoring.
- As a receiver, Hall adjusts well to poorly thrown balls and also can return kicks.
- Wharfedale had chance to go ahead with a penalty but the kick was wide of the posts.
- Doncaster went ahead after three minutes when York failed to deal with an up-and-under kick and the home scrum-half scored unopposed.
- As Hastings's kick sailed wide, the normally restrained England winger Rory Underwood let slip a four-letter expletive in surprise.
- Jones maintained his perfect record with a superb kick from the touchline.
- O'Meara had another chance to stretch the lead two minutes before the break when Leinster won a penalty on the half-way line but his kick went wide.
- Six minutes from the break Henderson tried his luck again with a penalty but sent the kick wide.
- The gloss on a stunning score came when Stephens converted the touchline kick, giving Kendal a 22-0 lead.
- They made a flying start with a penalty in the first minute by Andrew Mawdsley, but that was quickly countered by a successful kick from Paul Branthwaite.
- Soon afterwards Schofield steered his side forward with an excellent 50 yard kick and only his subsequent poor pass prevented Redcar increasing their lead.
- He sent another effort narrowly wide of the post with almost the final kick of the first half.
- A gust of wind resulted in one kick from the touchline blowing right back to the corner flag at the same side of the pitch.
- The kick again slid wide, but at 24-18 the game was well and truly alive again.
- The kick drifted wide of the posts and the visitors' place in the final was secured after a game that neither side deserved to lose.
- With 1 minute remaining plus injury time the score was 0-0 but with the last kicks of the game the opposition nicked two goals.
- Bower produced some gymnastics to keep the ball in play with an overhead kick across the goal-mouth.
- On a good day the kick would have been easy, but the wind blew the ball on to the post to rebound out.
- Captain Michelle Harrison took the kick and floated the ball high across the six-yard box.
- 1.2British (chiefly in rugby) a player of specified kicking ability.
Example sentencesExamples - Paul Barnard has become an excellent kick for goal.
2in singular A sudden forceful jolt. the shuttle accelerated with a kick Example sentencesExamples - The aircraft commander, who was at the controls, waited for the kick associated with the missile release.
- There is a sudden kick on the rod and yes, it is indeed a fish, a perch that stays deep for several minutes before, slowly, it begins to swim to the surface.
- As I looked outside, I realized we were accelerating, but there was no associated kick.
- There was a sudden mighty kick, like a giant was shaking the ship, and Lazarus could feel his insides trembling.
- 2.1 The recoil of a gun when discharged.
Example sentencesExamples - He felt the kick of the sniper rifle in his hands.
- She could see that he hadn't been lying when he had mentioned the gun's vicious kick; some of the students were unprepared and flinched backwards on impact.
- He had conditioned himself to ignore the kick and the sharp report, and to hold the sights steady and press the trigger smoothly.
- Many recruits were worried about the kick of a rifle.
- 2.2Billiards Snooker An irregular movement of the ball caused by dust.
he suffered a kick on the pink in frame four Example sentencesExamples - A Doherty break of 26 was then halted by a kick on the white.
- Needing just pink and black to book a fourth round spot against David Roe, Davison got a nasty kick on the cueball, causing him to miss the pink and letting Finbow in to clinch the match.
- A nasty kick on the black prevented him from registering the highest break of the tournament.
3informal The sharp stimulant effect of alcohol or a drug. strong stuff, this brew: he felt the kick Example sentencesExamples - This wine has a deep purple colour, with a lively kick of dark fruit and warm cinnamon spices.
- My girlfriend had vegetarian fajitas that were perfectly spiced to give a kick to a rather bland selection of vegetables.
- Incredibly moist and flavorful, with the wonderful taste of orange, the subtle kick of ginger and a delicious sugar crust, it also looks beautiful.
- It comes in twelve different fruit flavours and the alcoholic kick is provided by schnapps.
- It tastes like watered down barley water with a bit of an alcoholic kick.
- Cannabis is often an intermediary drug, used before the user moves onto harder drugs, when the kick of cannabis wears off.
- Those who drink Corona beer often shove a lime wedge into the bottle to give the beer a citrus kick.
- It has quite a kick, emphasised by a pungent aroma that brings tears to the eyes and a hanky to the nose.
- The Glühwein has quite a kick, emphasised by a pungent aroma that brings tears to the eyes.
Synonyms potency, stimulant effect, alcoholic effect, strength, power, punch tang, zest, bite, piquancy, edge, pungency, spice, savour informal zip, zing, zap, pep, oomph - 3.1 A thrill of pleasurable, often reckless excitement.
rich kids turning to crime just for kicks I get such a kick out of driving a racing car Example sentencesExamples - Horror fans should get a kick out of this obscure little film.
- We just get a big kick out of seeing our names in the paper…that's what drives people like us into this business
- Extra undercover officers will patrol city estates in a bid to curb the antics of youngsters who steal cars for kicks or take them for use in other crimes and then burn them out.
- And for a growing number of people, putting a needle in your vein for kicks is an acceptable thing to do.
- Little did they know, this is what she did for kicks.
- They get their kicks from destroying property, scaring people and inflicting pain.
- We have found too, that these younger patients have a great deal to contribute to our entire treatment programme through their energy and enthusiasm and that they get a kick out of doing so.
- He denied that pupils at his school were taking horse tranquillisers for kicks or that they were less than communicative because of their drug habits.
- Some people seem to get a kick out of taking this as it is illegal, so if it was legal, then there wouldn't be anyone taking it.
- He is passionate about football and gets a real kick out of seeing the children in his club succeed.
- He's the type of guy who'll try anything once for kicks.
- The Adventure Show focuses on fanatics who get their kicks out of non-traditional sports with an emphasis on extremes and endurance.
- There is, it seems, a certain sort of human pathology, male pathology, to which this appeals, just as serial killers get a kick from their power over the powerless.
- Who did not get a kick out of seeing Bono - Irish to his boots - unveil that Stars and Stripes jacket at the Super Bowl?
- She has a 15-year-old son who goes to Orchard Park, where teenagers were photographed sniffing petrol for kicks.
Synonyms thrill, excitement, stimulation, tingle fun, enjoyment, amusement, pleasure, gratification informal buzz, high North American informal charge - 3.2with modifier A temporary interest in a particular thing.
Example sentencesExamples - I would suggest that increased numbers in 2003 had more to do with last year's hot summer than a sudden health kick by visitors.
- It's part of the whole nostalgia kick, I suspect.
- Lately I have been back on the self-examination kick.
- The last couple of years I've been on a big Motown kick.
- I went on a health kick this summer, and weaned myself almost entirely off donuts.
- America is on one of its prohibitionist kicks, treating drugs as something utterly satanic.
Synonyms craze, enthusiasm, obsession, mania, passion, preoccupation, fixation fashion, vogue, trend informal fad, jag
4kicksUS informal Soft sports shoes; trainers. a pair of basketball kicks Example sentencesExamples - Michael Jordan apparently wears one pair of kicks to warm up in and another to play in.
- It's just that when your coworker complimented you on your new kicks, you weren't expecting her to go out and buy the exact same ones.
- What's your favorite pair of kicks?
- The money that leaves Spanish Harlem or Bedford Stuyvesant to purchase the latest, most expensive pair of kicks most likely isn't going back into those neighborhoods.
- In simple terms, the deal meant that each team had a 'Home' and an 'Away' coloured pair of kicks to match their jerseys.
- Meaning he could wear a different pair of kicks - and we're talking different individual makes here, no two alike - every day for five years.
- We cashed-up city folk spend a good deal of time trying and buying new kicks.
- I never knew his name, we just called him "boots" after the Western kicks he wore always.
- If your idea of an appropriate outfit to wear to the grocery store is a flannel shirt, green sweatpants and a pink pair of these kicks, stay in the house.
- Worn-out soles will wear out your knees: replace them or pick up a new pair of kicks.
- These colorful mesh and sequin kicks are the perfect pair of "emergency shoes."
- First, he reported that MJ wouldn't be wearing retro kicks for the game because they give him blisters.
- As usual in every All-Star Weekend, they strike their best pose and wear the latest thing in kicks.
- The Nets all wore black socks and black kicks last night.
- To keep it fair and square, all names will be put into the tank and the lucky winners will be able to snap up a very collectable pair of kicks for only $250.
- Reebok apparently declined to sign him to an endorsement deal, ending their bidding war with Nike for #8 to wear their kicks.
- He's rocking his dad's old Sixers jersey and the red, white and blue adidas kicks that were specially made for him a while back.
- For weeks, Luis had bugged his father about the hot new Air Jordan Retro 5 kicks that were coming out.
- Nearly 30% of respondents wear their kicks just for kicks - not as a get-up to participate in any sport.
- Spend a foot-wrenching jog in the wrong pair of kicks and your adventures in the asphalt trade promise to be as enjoyable as an Enron stock return.
- You have only two days left to enter to win a hot new pair of Converse kicks.
Phrases kick (some) ass (or butt) vulgar slang Act in a forceful or aggressive manner.
kick someone's ass (or butt) vulgar slang Punish, dominate, or defeat someone.
a kick at the can (or cat) informal An opportunity to achieve something. Example sentencesExamples - The loft spaces are now condos, the families sold up and moved on, and new people are having a kick at the can selling different things to a different neighborhood.
- It's a once in a lifetime opportunity to take a kick at the cat.
- So, it's a fairly long, cumbersome process, and everyone gets a kick at the can.
- It's time for our annual review of court decisions from the past year - one last opportunity for a kick at the cat where I disagreed with the court and, much less fun, compliments where I think they got it right.
- My partner and I use VMWare, and we're already debating whether or not we should give VS a kick at the can.
- When he stepped down, Gillick said it was someone else's turn to ‘take a kick at the can.’
- Our guys would just like a kick at the can.
- Since 1967, all three major parties have had a kick at the can.
- I kind of think certain players deserve a kick at the can in some respect, a chance, but you do have to earn it.
- Every few years we are allowed to have a kick at the can to actually choose which privileged bastard will rule us.
when the old girl finally kicked the bucket there was no mention of yours truly in the will Example sentencesExamples - I always wanted to have a rich relative who kicked the bucket and left all his money to me.
- This would be an optimum age to kick the bucket, I feel, as I'd never have to suffer the indignity of reaching 40.
- When rich Americans kick the bucket, they invariably will a good sum to their alma maters, pet charities or research institutions.
- If I kick the bucket, half of everything immediately goes to the government, because we're not legally married.
- Even though the British Empire had long since kicked the bucket, the expats could still be found pretty much anywhere the Brits had a former colony.
- The film's title refers to a wish list that two terminally ill men try to fulfill before each kicks the bucket.
- I see the old man finally kicked the bucket.
- He wanted to do his own thing and he wanted to do it now - not down the track when his father finally kicked the bucket.
- But in spite of the fact, when he kicks the bucket and departs his mortal coil, it is going to be one of the biggest funerals in the Bahamas.
- Heck, I've had 2 dramatically different careers already and am contemplating a good few more before I kick the bucket!
kick the can down the road informal Put off confronting a difficult issue or making an important decision, typically on a continuing basis. I appreciate that he doesn't want to raise taxes, but sooner or later you have to stop kicking the can down the road Example sentencesExamples - They have been kicking the can down the road for two years.
- "It kicks the can down the road for a slight amount of time," Mr. Stone said.
- For our part, we would greatly prefer to deal with the adjustments that are necessary for robust economic growth, rather than just kicking the can down the road.
- Probably in December they'll kick the can down the road which is what Washington always does.
- They already kicked the can down the road in the debt ceiling agreement that led to this.
- However, he viewed the federal government's actions as simply kicking the can down the road without solving the fundamental problems.
- In politics there is always a temptation to kick the can down the road and hope that problems might disappear.
- We have kicked the can down the road for a generation.
- We can always kick the can down the road by saying now's not the right time for anything we don't feel like doing.
- For months, in response to the Greek crisis, the eurozone's leaders have been kicking the tin can down the road.
Synonyms delay, put off doing something, postpone action, defer action, be dilatory, use delaying tactics, stall, temporize, play for time, play a waiting game, dally, drag one's feet, drag one's heels, take one's time
a kick in the pants (or up the backside) informal An unwelcome surprise that prompts fresh effort. the competition will be healthy—we need a kick in the pants Example sentencesExamples - She is there for me when things go wrong - and when I need a kick up the backside.
- It is easy to dismiss Ivanov, alongside Chekhov's other plays, as being full of melancholy middle class moaners who need a kick up the backside.
- He strikes me as a guy who needs a lot of love - maybe a lot of love and a kick in the pants.
- Sometimes people need empathy; sometimes they need a kick in the pants.
- Failing to qualify for the final two rounds of the St Andrews Links Trophy last week gave me a kick up the backside which I fully deserved.
- We think we've got a good team but, every now and then, we could use a kick up the backside.
- Stuttgart gave me a kick up the backside, and I re-focused and came out better last year - it was what I needed.
- He is a very good coach in every respect, the first guy to give you a kick up the backside but also the first to give you a pat on the back when he feels you deserve it.
- We had a bit of a kick up the backside at half time, which we deserved, and that spurred us on.
- Today, if I was the president, I would dismiss the coach and line the players up against a wall and give them all a kick up the backside.
kick someone in the pants (or up the backside) informal Prompt someone to make fresh effort. Example sentencesExamples - His advice is always timely, full of common sense and he never hesitates to kick me in the pants when necessary.
- I have a reason to kick you in the pants and light fire under you to keep you focused and keep you going.
- So, I've been thinking I really need something to kick me in the pants and get me blogging again, I recall I used to rather enjoy it.
- I can barely spend time with my extended kin without the having the urge to kick them up the backside.
- Maybe a jail term will kick him in the pants and straighten him out.
informal A grave setback or disappointment. this broken promise is a kick in the teeth for football Example sentencesExamples - We are trying to improve the facilities all the time and make the ground more presentable and this sort of thing is just a kick in the teeth.
- The chairman described the council's decision to reject the scheme as a kick in the teeth.
- The European Court of Justice has recently delivered a kick in the teeth to British people who want to work longer hours.
- This is a kick in the teeth for the members of the council who worked so hard.
- This is a kick in the teeth for the people of Salford and an outrageous waste of taxpayers' money.
- Residents living close to the proposed multi-storey office and car park complex in Abbey Street said revised plans for the site are a kick in the teeth for the local community.
- This is nothing more than a kick in the teeth for the local residents who have supported the club for many years.
- Further restrictions on working time would be a kick in the teeth for many firms, particularly smaller ones.
- For the poorly paid staff, who earn from £9,000 to £12,000 per year, this was a kick in the teeth.
- To hear from the Government that their regiment is about to be scrapped is a kick in the teeth for the brave men and women of our armed services.
kick someone in the teeth informal Cause someone a grave setback or disappointment. there are times when life kicks you in the teeth Example sentencesExamples - Police officers must feel like they are kicked in the teeth every time they see someone they locked up back on the streets when they worked so hard to put them away in the first place.
- You think you're going in the right direction and then a performance like that really kicks you in the teeth so all the lads were very disappointed and so were the staff.
- We've been kicked in the teeth so many times over the years but have always managed to keep on going, but this time, we're in real trouble.
- Scotland have an uncanny knack of finding heartbreaking ways of exiting tournaments, of getting the nation's hopes up before kicking them in the teeth.
- On the 60th anniversary of D-Day they patted us on the back… nine months later they kick us in the teeth.
- Why is it, as soon as I show even the faintest sign of optimism, something happens to really kick me in the teeth?
- I've always wanted to play cricket for my country, so it felt like they were kicking me in the teeth.
- But one day the world kicks you in the teeth and you don't have any choice but to see things the way they really are.
- She launched a scathing attack on the sport's main authorities - insisting she has been kicked in the teeth by the very people who should be supporting her.
- Jamie Johnstone said staff felt like they had been kicked in the teeth after all their hard work building up the business.
kick something into touch (or into the long grass) informal Reject, dismiss, or invalidate something. his modest request for £300,000 in public investment was kicked into touch by the Arts Council a football star has won his legal battle to get a driving conviction kicked into touch Example sentencesExamples - A five-year battle to introduce protection for employees who blow the whistle on companies engaged in malpractice ended last week when the government effectively kicked the measure into touch.
- Other ministers have repeatedly kicked all proposals into the long grass.
- But now a report from consultants has kicked the proposals into touch, forcing Mr Branston to abandon one of his big ideas.
- It was obvious that the deal was no longer tenable, so we kicked it into touch.
- This is an ideal opportunity to debate the matter and it is wrong to kick it into touch once again.
- Both sides dug their heels in, and the album's American release was kicked into the long grass.
- Kicking the issue into the long grass beyond 2015 only emboldens our European competitors.
- Since the concept of a regulator for payments systems is so strongly disliked by banks, this consultative period may give them the chance to kick the whole thing into touch.
- The issue has been kicked into the long grass until the party's main conference in October.
- It can't have come as a great shock to Sharp that his application was kicked into touch.
Be annoyed with oneself for doing something foolish or missing an opportunity. he was kicking himself for not biding his time Example sentencesExamples - Don't miss it when you get the chance to see it or you'll be kicking yourself when you finally do.
- Anyone who left last Saturday's league match early will be kicking themselves.
- Well I will continue to kick myself over the fact that I did not sell when they hit $150.
- If you miss this show you'll be kicking yourself all winter.
- Many people will be pleased that they got in just in time, but even more will be kicking themselves that they missed out.
- I dare say that the people who said no are kicking themselves.
- We were really kicking ourselves afterwards at having missed such a golden opportunity.
- Every broadcaster is moving to those bigger pictures, and you will soon be kicking yourself if you buy a set that has the old screen shape, unless it's a portable for the bedroom.
- You'll be kicking yourself Monday if you don't take ten minutes today to read this.
- They'll be kicking themselves for the mistakes they made.
informal Contribute money to a cause. if your business would like to kick the tin, there's a range of sponsorship packages Example sentencesExamples - Rather unnecessarily I thought, 'I'm kicking the tin for a few others as well so you needn't mention this.'
- Even when we come in and kick the tin, you do not accept it; you want more and more.
- It has been kicking the tin for a year already with cash for us.
- While the federal transport minister repeatedly says he doesn't have to contribute a cent, she is keen for them to kick the tin again.
- We have worked within the system, “kicking the tin,” participating in Safety Board hearings, and even providing congressional testimony when necessary.
- Whether you are a carer, a fundraiser for research into illnesses, or someone who always kicks the tin and donates, your efforts are appreciated.
- If you want to kick the tin to help raise a joey, phone us now.
kick someone/something to the curb informal Reject or cast aside. things get complicated for Alfie when he's kicked to the curb by his girlfriend Example sentencesExamples - I've been kicked to the curb enough times to know that religion matters in a relationship, even when it doesn't to an individual.
- There's barely a happy moment to be found, with Cole either recovering from heartbreak, overcoming betrayal or kicking someone to the curb.
- Shouldn't Kim have kicked Steve to the curb?
- Something he apparently hasn't been able or willing to do since I kicked him to the curb.
- Not a lot has changed in the battle of the sexes guy meets girl, girl kicks guy to the curb, his self-esteem crushed.
- She seems to have gotten over her previous misadventure of being kicked to the curb on her wedding day by Basil.
- Many years ago, when my wife and I were just dating, she kicked me to the curb.
- Guy meets girl, girl kicks guy to the curb.
- We see her untimely pregnancy, her ill-fated marriage, and her poor attempts at being a single mother after she kicks Ray to the curb.
- Guy meets girl, girl kicks guy to the curb, his self-esteem, crushed.
informal Inform oneself about the quality of a product, service, etc. before buying. borrowers should be sure to kick the tyres on that offer before signing up they kicked the tyres but decided not to buy the property Example sentencesExamples - The British have kicked the tires and are now taking their biometric passport scheme out for a test drive.
- A team of scouts has kicked the tires and slammed the doors on these and many, many more free agents and knows which players are a good buy for which teams.
- The rumor of the weekend, of course, was that the company was hanging out in Finland kicking the tires on a huge potential merger.
- Typically, companies parcel out the initial sign-up invitations to a select few, asking that they kick the tires and offer feedback.
- As many of you know, she is kicking the tires of colleges right now.
- The company has begun kicking the tires of online music services as it rethinks its strategy, which hinges on streaming media, not downloads.
- They're kicking the tires on the opposition parties.
- We've got to kick the tires of these candidates, see what they're about.
- People can "kick the tires" on college finance sources for the best deals.
- I'm not going to bring a fare increase to the board based on these circumstances, until we have this top-to-bottom review and until I'm convinced we've kicked the tires on it.
- Give me a log in and a password; I want to get in and look around and kick the tires.
- With millions of dollars at stake on a single player, it's hard to fault the franchises for repeatedly kicking the tires.
- He puts a lot of emphasis on fundamental research, and going out to companies and kicking the tires.
- Australia's biggest renewable energy company is trying to flog itself to the highest bidder—and plenty of global players have been kicking the tyres.
- Right now we are in a very close contest as the voters lift the hood and kick the tyres and make an assessment.
kick up a fuss (or a stink) informal Object loudly or publicly to something. local people are kicking up a fuss about the noise and smells from the farm Example sentencesExamples - So if you disapprove of this approach to public artworks, now is the time to start kicking up a stink.
- It is the liberal elite, not the public, that kicks up a fuss about gay MPs.
- People need to shop around and not be afraid of kicking up a fuss if they feel dissatisfied.
- If he kicks up a fuss, you know there's more to the relationship than meets the eye.
- A husband and wife kicked up a stink after discovering raw sewage in their street.
- Councillors in Ulverston are kicking up a stink about the amount of litter in the town.
- This woman kicked up a fuss and demanded to be moved to another table.
- And if schoolkids are being prevented from using this forum then it is time we all kicked up a stink.
- Residents in Witham are again kicking up a stink over the aroma emanating from the town's sewage works.
- I didn't think that it would be a big problem but he really kicked up a fuss when I told him about the accident.
informal Remove someone from an influential position by giving them an ostensible promotion. he'll be kicked upstairs for a year or so before taking early retirement Example sentencesExamples - If they can't get on, the prime minister has to sack his chancellor, make him foreign secretary, kick him upstairs to the Lords as lord chancellor or see his Cabinet disintegrate.
- In March, he was kicked upstairs to head the World Bank.
- Thousands of letters and telegrams from small businessmen, farmers and labor leaders urged him to resist all attempts to kick him upstairs.
- Clifford removed General William Westmoreland as Vietnam commander, kicking him upstairs to become Army chief of staff and replacing him with General Creighton Abrams.
- Gromyko had been one of Gorbachev's supporters and he was kicked upstairs to become head of state.
- I wonder how many of CCSD's top administrators were appointed in order to kick them upstairs.
- As part of the deal, he would have become chairman (but not CEO) - which was simply a way to kick him upstairs.
- Although this varies by organization, the front-line people are often all too eager to kick you upstairs.
- But Republican Party bosses, fearful of his independence, managed to kick him upstairs to the vice presidency.
- Stop waiting for your supervisor to kick you upstairs.
kick someone when they are down Cause further misfortune to someone who is already in a difficult situation. he did not believe in the doctrine that you did not kick a man when he was down Example sentencesExamples - And there is no honor in kicking somebody when they are down.
- Instead of kicking them when they are down they should be extending a helping hand to the unemployed people.
- It's not fair to kick someone when they are down when nothing is proven.
- In most cases, I hate seeing the press kick somebody when they're down.
- There's an understandable reluctance to kick a man when he's down, and most commentators have found something nice to say about the fallen leader.
- Talk about kicking someone when they are down.
- It's very easy to kick someone when they're down, but if I start the season well, then the British tabloids will get behind me, because that's what sells papers
Phrasal Verbs Protest against or resist (something) young people are supposed to kick against the establishment Example sentencesExamples - Working in television provided him with training, a secure job and an establishment to kick against, and he remains grateful for all of this.
- And, coming late to the development game, its 150 miles of beautiful coastline are still largely unexploited - a big asset in a market that is starting to kick against mindless overdevelopment.
- Sheffield always kicks against the national trend and one thing I discovered over the years is that just because something happened nationally does not mean it is going to happen in Sheffield.
- Taboo thrived in a period of right-wing politics, the Thatcher / Reagan years, and it's proof of a basic human need to have something to kick against.
- All my life I've railed and kicked against dogma and rhetoric: I've stuck my neck out.
- She was always rebellious, kicking against the established ways of doing things, and one of the forms this took was marrying in haste, and for love, one of the first men who came along.
- He was a musician, too: that gave him carte blanche to be wild, to refuse to conform, to kick against the domesticity that I was creating around him.
- I wonder whether there wasn't a point at which they kicked against their upbringing, as most teenagers do?
- Inevitably, self-obsessed Gwen kicks against the system, until learning lessons the hard way.
- It is the job of the journalist, he says, to kick against authority.
Synonyms resist, rebel against, oppose, fight against, struggle against, refuse to accept
1(of a thing) lie unwanted or unexploited. the idea has been kicking around for over a year Example sentencesExamples - Then, a couple years later, I was writing a movie with Chris at Paramount, and the producers asked me if I had anything kicking around, because they liked the work I was doing.
- Working in a bank, it's odd to see that people still have old notes and coins kicking about which they bring in from time to time to exchange.
- Virtually any company with about $20,000 kicking around could find a game designer to produce them a fun game, which they can then give away for free as advertising.
- Those pics are nearly 10 years old, they were kicking about on the net months ago.
- The notion has been kicking around since late November and the very fact that it has taken me until late January to look at it shows where it figures on my Richter Scale.
- What sort of people have £50,000 kicking around?
- That's an awful long time for an application to be kicking around the patent office.
- Well, thankfully I don't have a gun kicking around my New York apartment.
- Some of the songs on here have been kicking around for years.
- That debate's been kicking around for decades now.
- 1.1(of a person) drift idly from place to place.
I kicked around picking up odd jobs Example sentencesExamples - Lowe has been kicking around the British folk music scene long enough to have influenced many of his contemporaries.
- Meantime, he kicks around 13th Street, living in an apartment above the newsstand.
- Kelly Willis has kicked around record labels nearly as much as her family kicked around the country while she was growing up.
- They appear to have been kicking around Milwaukee for a good decade now, putting out cassettes and such.
- We were kicking around Napa when we stumbled upon the CIA's campus, and I remember hearing their food was great and their prices were relatively cheap.
- Wolfe's been kicking around frat houses to do his research.
- Bands who have been kicking around for a couple of years just aren't interested.
- Hey is it just me, or is her hair ludicrously overdone for someone who just kicks around school and Ramsay Street all day?
- In 1970, after a few years kicking around the live music scene, Collins answered a classified ad seeking a drummer and joined Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford to form Genesis.
- It is a second career for both of them: trained in horticulture, the Whittles went abroad in their late twenties, kicking around for five years before settling down on Vancouver Island, Canada.
Treat someone roughly or without respect. they can't kick me around Example sentencesExamples - Why are conservative pundits still kicking him around?
- Once she learned I wasn't going to hit her or kick her around, she thought she could get away with murder.
- You've been kicking us around for three years, and we've had enough of it.
- Four armed men forced him out of the car, put a bag over his head after kicking him around and threw him into a minivan.
- Looks like whoever did this kicked him around, I suspect some of his ribs are at least cracked.
- I've already taken a few knocks and expect to get kicked about a bit, but I can deal with it.
- Talk about excessive force: they subdue the guy and then continue to beat him up and kick him around.
- She tied me up to the tree and started kicking me around until I lost my consciousness.
- I spent four years in the army to free a bunch of Dutchmen and Frenchmen, and I'm hanged if I'm going to let the Alabama version of the Germans kick me around when I get home.
- But 10 days ago a pitiless thug broke into her home, kicked her around like a football and stole her life savings.
Synonyms abuse, mistreat, maltreat, treat disrespectfully, treat inconsiderately, push about, push around, boss about, boss around, trample on, take for granted
kick something around (or about) Discuss a proposal informally. they had begun to kick around the idea of sending a man into space Example sentencesExamples - It would be helpful if we could kick some ideas around on how to meet your goal.
- We've been kicking around ideas for a change in basic format for quite some time now, and our Managing Editor is the driving force behind the entire scheme.
- The idea for an Office of Homeland Security had been kicked around for years.
- Vendors were contacted and ideas were kicked around by all parties (with mixed results).
- The questions are kicked around by politicians, parents and educationists every August, but the students who take the exams have views too.
- ‘These are generally brainstorming sessions where you kick interesting ideas around; you raise issues and discuss issues,’ he said ‘It's a mini think-tank more than anything.’
- Chris, Bart, and I have been kicking around the idea of doing a rock opera for four years now.
- It gets scrutinized and argued about and kicked around and analyzed.
- For the first time in the band's history, they had problems coming up with something fresh and the more they kicked ideas around or worked them up in concert the less happy they were.
- The book has been kicked about as a film project since the late 1970s - it was once to have been a TV movie starring John Travolta.
Synonyms discuss, talk over, debate, thrash out, consider, moot, toy with, play with, argue the pros and cons of
he has not been able to kick back and enjoy his success Example sentencesExamples - I was more than ready to kick back and enjoy the simple Sunday brunch.
- It's an ideal place to kick back and unwind in one of the most exquisite corners of Scotland.
- The past few months have just been go, go, go and at last I'm getting the chance to kick back and relax.
- I don't know why, but sweet ice tea never tastes better than when you're kicking back in a lawn chair, belly full, sleepy eyes drooping as you listen to the band.
- Instead, I'm going to kick back with a few glasses of red, relax, and enjoy what I have not had in twenty days: a weekend.
- I'm about to take a week's annual leave starting next week so I'm going to be able to kick back and relax a little.
- Picnics are a time to kick back, relax and enjoy tasty, yet easy-to-prepare food with friends.
- After the race, I was able to kick back and enjoy a nice dinner with our family, while Michael was resting up for his race on Sunday.
- Everyone looks forward to a carefree summer and time to kick back on the boat and relax.
- On our last day, we opted to kick back and enjoy the rustic luxury of our digs at the Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch.
Synonyms relax, unwind, take it easy, rest, take one's ease, slow down, let up, ease off, ease up, be at leisure, sit back, laze, enjoy oneself
Change quickly into a lower gear in a car with an automatic transmission by a sudden full depression of the accelerator. Example sentencesExamples - You get the odd hairy moment when coming over a ridge and round a corner at the same time as the car kicks down a gear and opens the throttle to maintain its speed.
- However, the transmission has a tendency to kick down into first gear all too easily, which can make progress around town a little jerky.
- I kept thinking the bike was going to stall as the revs dropped, and rather than kicking down a few gears, rolling off the throttle, and using a bit of brake to go around a corner, I had to use the brakes alone to slow me down.
Come into effect or operation. the hospital's emergency generators kicked in Example sentencesExamples - She put her terror to one side as her professional training kicked in and she provided emergency care.
- The Government will only take on claims after the new enterprise liability scheme kicks in.
- That's when my imagination kicks in and I begin to visualise shapes, structures and colours.
- But then you get out there and the adrenaline kicks in and you're away again.
- He is soon feeling sick and unhappy as the effects of his high fat diet kick in.
- When the New Year's resolution to lose weight kicks in, gyms and diet clubs often have a sharp rise in membership.
- The top band of council tax kicks in when a house is valued at more than £212,000.
- If you drive into central London there is a big C painted on the road at the point where the congestion charge kicks in.
- There is a British resilience and pragmatism that kicks in when something like this happens.
- I think the medication is finally kicking in and that was what I was waiting for.
Contribute something, especially money. if you subscribe now we'll kick in a bonus Example sentencesExamples - If you call them soon enough, surety firms might be able to kick in some money to ease cash shortages as well as to share good ideas and offer lots of expertise.
- It wasn't a cheap flight, but luckily Sara's parents had kicked in a ton of money.
- But if you're willing to kick some money in, his investment choices will widen.
- As private donors kicked in more money, every aspect of the blueprint kept changing.
- Both the Soviet Union and the United States were eager to kick in cash and advice.
1(of a football match) be started or resumed by a player kicking the ball from the centre spot. World Cup games will kick off in the afternoon Example sentencesExamples - The game kicks off at 2.15 pm to allow spectators and players to watch the televised England v Ireland game.
- Football matches in the English Premier and Nationwide leagues kicked off six minutes later than usual yesterday.
- The Church of England is allowing clergy to change the time of Sunday's services so they don't clash with the England-Sweden game, which kicks off at 10.30 am.
- The Ladies' exhibition football match kicks off at the Reebok at 3pm on Sunday.
- Usually when an FA Cup is played on a Saturday and a TV company wants to show the game live, it kicks off at around 12 noon or 1pm.
- City's home match with Huddersfield has been switched to Sunday afternoon to avoid a clash with the Scarborough v Chelsea tie, which kicks off at 12.30 pm on Saturday.
- The Academy game kicks off at 3.40 pm with the Bulls currently second in the table behind St Helens.
- I actually predicted before the England v France match kicked off that Beckham would retire from International football at the end of the Championship.
- Our match kicked off at 11.30 the next morning, but we played better and beat Brighton and Hove Albion 1 - 0.
- The strike took place just hours before a major European football match was due to kick off.
- 1.1(of a team or player) begin or resume a match by kicking the ball from the centre spot.
Example sentencesExamples - Today's referee, Jeff Winter, gets the game underway with Charlton kicking off.
- Their decision comes just three days before the England team kicks off against France as they bid to become Euro 2004 champions in Portugal.
- With the flip of a coin, a decision is made as to who kicks off first at a football game.
- Lancashire captain Andy Farrell kicked off in a game delayed by traffic congestion resulting from bad weather earlier in the evening.
- Costa Rica kick off needing a point from this game.
- 1.2informal Begin or cause something to begin.
the festival kicks off on Monday New Hampshire is the state whose presidential primary kicks off the political year Example sentencesExamples - He kicked off the campaign with a radio interview in New Hampshire on October 9.
- The beer festival kicks off at 7pm on July 29 and tickets are £6.
- Thousands of people are expected to hit the streets of the East Yorkshire town as the annual event kicks off the countdown to Christmas.
- David Beckham helped to kick off the latest campaign by the United Nations Children's Fund to end all forms of child exploitation.
- The team kicked off their season in a meeting with Washington State University last Saturday.
- The programme itself kicks off at noon with interviews and previews of the games to come.
- Bulgaria's new football championship season kicked off last weekend, implementing some interesting changes from past years.
- Jones was a relative late-starter in professional football when his career kicked off in 1986.
- With the Premiership season kicking off on Saturday, football has dominated the news, but there's plenty of other sport out there.
- The National Football League kicks off its new season tonight and for the second year in a row the event is being marked with a live concert.
Synonyms start, begin, get going, get off the ground, get under way
2Become very angry; suddenly start an argument or fight. I don't want her kicking off at me again there aren't many people I can kick off with and then phone up to apologize to people said he was trying to buy drugs off these guys and then it all just kicked off in the street Example sentencesExamples - He had to be physically restrained after kicking off in the accident and emergency department at Blackburn Royal Infirmary.
- These yobs started asking her and her mates for a fag and then one of them thumped one of her friends and started to kick off.
- Normally, if I'd been delayed by two hours on a train journey, I'd've been kicking off, and grumbling about the state of public transport.
Continue to play or perform well. maybe she'll kick on in the sport Example sentencesExamples - Most local experts expect him to kick on with the academy and with whatever AFL side snaps him up.
- "I went close to quitting swimming but this has given me the incentive to keep swimming; I'm now determined to kick on for next year's World Championships."
- "Our training will hopefully pay off later on in the season where we will be able to keep kicking on in games, especially the later stages of matches."
- The local veteran athlete has kicked on from his success at the Rainbow Masters Games.
- There's something that stirs the heart about his life-threateningly stupid decision to damn the injuries and the pain and to kick on in the hope of playing in the preliminary final.
Expel or dismiss someone. as a child he was kicked out of school Example sentencesExamples - Nazia was also afraid that if she said no to her parents, they'd kick her out of the house.
- Military school is where you go after you have been kicked out of at least three boarding schools.
- The implication was clear: ‘Do as I say or you could be kicked out of the country.’
- As a result of this investigation, Elmo was kicked out of the University.
- It is time for FIFA and Uefa to act by kicking the team out of the world cup and send the clearest signal possible that the football authorities will not tolerate racism.
- A few hours, and even more pitchers of beer later, we were kicked out of the bar, and stumbled back to our friend's place for some short-lived rest.
- Those from Switzerland were kicked out of the country for their beliefs and were relocated to Prussia, which is now part of Germany.
- California Republicans detest him, and they're torn between working with him to pass a budget or throwing all their weight behind kicking him out of office.
- Teachers, students and school administrators have joined forces to find ways of dealing with troubled students without kicking them out of school.
- When she finally told her parents she was pregnant, she said, her mother threw a stool at her and kicked her out of the house.
Synonyms expel, send away, eject, turn out, throw out, force out, oust, evict, put out, get rid of
(of the wind) become stronger. we were warned that the winds might kick up by mid-morning Example sentencesExamples - The temperature drops, the wind kicks up and the air grows much drier.
- She closed her jacket as the wind kicked up, blowing her long auburn hair into her face.
- It's been a calm day so far, but now the wind has kicked up.
- Tomorrow came, and though the wind was still kicking up, Floyd told us to get in the plane anyway, but to leave our gear behind.
- When the wind kicks up at Presidio Golf Course in San Francisco, where I teach, it's hard just to stand up straight, never mind hit a golf shot.
- We had one heck of a wind storm kick up last night and the 39 degree weather this morning felt like 29.
- I was so calm that even though the wind had begun to kick up quite a bit, I went to bed.
- The wind kicked up, skimming clouds over the surface of the full moon.
- A wind kicked up and, for a moment, Ford had to shield his eyes from the dust.
- In a short time the wind begins to kick up, seas rise to 4 feet, and the men hang on to the slippery deck.
Derivatives adjective Possession was often conceded and both sides missed kickable penalties which could have conferred a clear advantage in what was a very tight match. Example sentencesExamples - O'Carroll was unfortunate in missing two penalties from very kickable positions and these were to prove costly at the end of the game.
- A good break by hooker Pat Humphries ultimately left Shane Ryan with the chance to drop at goal but he pushed a very kickable chance well wide.
- In all, he missed three kickable penalties and a drop goal.
- Before referee Dean Richards blew for the break, Hinton was given another kickable penalty 35 metres out, but he missed.
Origin Late Middle English: of unknown origin. Although it is such a common word, nobody seems to know the origin of kick. If you kick against the pricks the image is that of an ox fruitlessly kicking out at a whip or spur: the more it kicks, the more the driver goads it. The expression comes from the Bible story of Saul of Tarsus. He was an opponent of the followers of Jesus, and was going to Damascus to arrest any Christians in the city. On his journey he had a vision and heard the question, ‘Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?’ When he asked who the speaker was he was told, ‘I am Jesus who thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.’ After seeing the vision Saul became a Christian convert, under the new name Paul. If you kick over the traces the ‘traces’ in this expression are the two side straps which attach a draught horse to the vehicle it is pulling. If the animal is uncooperative or skittish and kicks out over these straps, the driver has difficulty in trying to regain control. To kick the bucket meaning ‘to die’ has been in use since the late 18th century, although its exact origins are not clear. One gruesome suggestion is that a person who wanted to commit suicide by hanging themselves might stand on a bucket while putting the noose round their neck and then kick the bucket away. Another idea looks back to an old sense of ‘bucket’ meaning ‘a beam used for hanging something on’. This meaning was also found in Norfolk dialect, in which it referred specifically to a beam from which a pig about to be slaughtered was suspended by its heels.
Rhymes artic, brick, chick, click, crick, flick, hand-pick, hic, hick, lick, mick, miskick, nick, pic, pick, quick, rick, shtick, sic, sick, slick, snick, stick, thick, tic, tick, trick, Vic, wick noun kɪkkɪk archaic An indentation in the bottom of a glass bottle, diminishing the internal capacity.
Origin Mid 19th century: of unknown origin. verbkɪkkik 1with object and adverbial Strike or propel forcibly with the foot. police kicked down the door Example sentencesExamples - Mr Duncan, who lived opposite, pushed bystanders aside and kicked down the door.
- When he reached the bedroom, he kicked the door open with his foot.
- If you like football, go out and kick a ball around with a few mates.
- The flight was terrible: the man sitting next to him snored and the child behind him kept kicking the back of his chair.
- They kicked down the door, dragged the women outside and went into the house.
- Witnesses later told detectives that they saw the men kicking what they thought was " a bundle of rags".
- He was kicked in the head after being attacked from behind in what police believe was an unprovoked attack.
- She had kicked off her shoes at the beach and rolled up her jeans.
- The 16-year-old loves nothing better than climbing trees and kicking a ball around with pals on a muddy playing field.
- The appeal follows a recent spate of vandalism where bins have been set alight, plant pots have been kicked over and garden furniture damaged.
- He laughed and I kicked his shin under the table.
- He neared the goal and kicked the ball powerfully.
- One of the protesters kicked a security official in the leg as she was taken out.
- In the latest incident, the man was in bed asleep when his front door was kicked in.
- Caine kicked the door open and hauled them both inside.
- All the doors had been kicked in and the office was in a real mess.
- Finally the ball came down on the touchline and Levi was there in a second, kicking the ball into the goal.
- They cornered him and launched a brutal attack in which he was repeatedly kicked in the head as he lay on the ground.
- Instead of asking young people to turn their music down or stop kicking a ball about, some residents get aggressive or call the police and that obviously makes things a lot worse.
- The garage door was kicked in, windows smashed and boards ripped apart in a concerted attack that must have lasted several minutes.
Synonyms boot, punt, strike with the foot - 1.1no object Strike out or flail with the foot or feet.
with object and complement he kicked his feet free of a vine Example sentencesExamples - I shifted my weight and kicked out at one of them with my right boot, catching him on the hip and sending him sprawling.
- Andreas turned around and kicked out at Justin, sending him staggering backwards to regain his balance.
- Once inside the car, he kicked out at the interior door panels and windows, as well as spitting in the face of another police officer.
- Before she could think, Valerie had swung her leg and kicked as hard as she could at the wooden chair Dev sat on, sending him tumbling onto the ground.
- He kicked at the fire, sending up a shower of sparks.
- She leaned back on one leg, kicking out with her foot.
- One horse kicked out at him causing fatal injuries.
- Ellsia kicked at the table leg trying to release her violent frustration.
- Acting on instinct, she kicked out at him, causing him to drop the knife.
- Prudence kicked as hard as she could as the men dragged her out of the vehicle and to the side of the road.
- She kicked her feet weakly and tried to struggle free from his grasp.
- Hoyle and Bruce were spoken to by the referee after an altercation in midfield, but following the free kick Bruce kicked out at Hoyle in the penalty area.
- She gasped for breath, instinctively beginning to kick at him as hard as she could.
- Instinctively, he kicked out at the man with the bottle and then a full scale fight erupted in the bar.
- He said that he had gone home and had an argument with his mother so he took out his frustration on parked cars, swinging his arms into wing mirrors and kicking out with his feet.
- Donna winced in pain, and spinning round, kicked out at Mark's stomach, momentarily winding him.
- I latched the door, made sure it was secure, and kicked at it just to check.
- She kicked out at the man who held her legs and broke free from his grasp.
- My advice to parents would be to encourage their children from as early an age as possible to kick with both feet.
- Frantically she kicked out at the form standing over her.
- 1.2 (in football, rugby, etc.) score (a goal) by a kick.
Example sentencesExamples - He not only kicked goals and engineered a string of openings but also scored the crucial opening try.
- Johnny Moroney, who played on the left wing, scored 14 points, kicking goals as well as scoring a try.
- Barking scored a penalty before Dave Lewis kicked a drop goal a minute later to put them 16-9 ahead.
- Against Eaglehawk, they kicked nine goals in the second quarter to lead at half-time.
- He won a couple of hard balls in the forward line that were very important, kicked one goal himself and had a hand in a couple of others.
2informal with object Succeed in giving up (a habit or addiction) smokers may soon have new help to kick the habit Example sentencesExamples - But I also recognise that kicking addictions is terribly difficult, and the time of being admitted to hospital is not the time to try it.
- Each time he would promise to kick his crippling addictions to heroin and alcohol, but would lapse again almost immediately.
- The more places help and support are available, the greater their chances of kicking the costly habit.
- I'm currently having terrible trouble kicking the smoking habit.
- A cocaine vaccine developed by a UK pharmaceutical company could help cocaine addicts kick their habit.
- More than half the prisoners who signed up for a detox programme in the country's first drug-free unit have kicked the habit.
- Some people have said it's easier to withdraw from heroin than to kick the tobacco habit.
- It's National No-Smoking Day on Wednesday, a day when millions of tobacco addicts try to kick their unpleasant habit.
- He is going into rehab to try to kick his addiction to prescription painkillers.
- Since his arrest he has been to Gamblers Anonymous sessions in Bristol in a bid to kick the spiralling habit.
- Somehow we got talking about the lottery and he told me he had just kicked the habit.
- The campaign, which urged people to embrace a vegetarian diet for healthy living and to kick the meat-eating habit, had attracted much attention.
- Despite a promise to kick the nicotine habit, he has only managed to cut down from three packs a day to an almost respectable one.
- As he neared the end of his three years and nine months sentence, he began to pick up the pieces of his life, kicking his addiction, getting a job and preparing to start again.
- On any given day there are literally thousands of people trying to kick the smoking habit.
- In recent years he has kicked his bad habits, embraced marriage and fatherhood, and earned international acclaim as an elder statesman of rock.
- The fact is, it is not impossible to kick a nicotine addiction.
- They say promises to begin the New Year afresh by giving up smoking or junk food are broken so quickly we become convinced that kicking a bad habit is beyond our control.
- For people trying to kick the cigarette habit, gums, patches, lollipops, and lip balms that contain nicotine are often useful.
- Arrested three times on drugs charges, he was finally forced to put his career on hold for a year while he kicked his habit.
Synonyms give up, break, get out of, abandon, end, escape from 3no object (of a gun) recoil when fired. Example sentencesExamples - The gun kicked so hard, Bethany smacked herself in the forehead.
- He fired another three shots from his rifle, feeling it kick back in his arms.
- The rifle kicked against his shoulder and the thundering of musket fire grew louder.
- You expect very small, very powerful guns to kick hard enough to hurt you.
- She pulled the trigger and the rifle kicked back.
Synonyms recoil, spring back, fly back
nounkɪkkik 1A blow or forceful thrust with the foot. Example sentencesExamples - Examples of abuse include punches, kicks, blows and partial suffocation by placing a rubber gas mask over the person's face.
- He said the blows, kicks and punches continued even when he cowered on the floor with his hands protecting his head.
- There was one Cork player on the ground and a number of kicks were aimed at him.
- A post-mortem examination revealed he died as a result of a single blow to the neck, probably a kick.
- I tried the door one more time before giving it a good kick.
- Patrick walked forward and landed a kick to the side of Sam's head.
- His left arm was nearly useless, and he tried to shield it with his body, but a sudden kick into his side threw him to the right.
- He threw me to the ground, finally releasing my hair, and delivered a swift kick to my stomach.
- A more probable explanation for some injuries was that they were caused by blows and kicks.
- Zhao said she fell to her knees, and then felt repeated kicks or blows to both sides of her head.
- The colonel responded with a swift kick that sent him sprawling.
- I was gazing out of the window when I felt a sharp kick on the back of my chair.
- A post-mortem examination conducted by a Home Office pathologist has revealed he received a number of blows and possibly a number of kicks.
- Thomas aimed a kick and some punches at the victim before Buckley struck a single blow at the man.
- He fell to the ground, hard, and had to curl himself into a ball as kicks were rained on his body.
- Suddenly, the group is upon him, delivering a number of punishing kicks and other blows
- But when the paramedics tried to leave, two youths attacked them, raining kicks and blows down on their heads and ribs.
- Fighting broke out when one of the team physios aimed a karate kick at an opposing player.
- A four-minute video of the brawl was played which showed the Leeds players trading kicks and blows with Owen.
- He was knocked out by a kick to the head.
- 1.1 (in sports) an instance of striking the ball with the foot.
Ball blasted the kick wide Example sentencesExamples - O'Meara had another chance to stretch the lead two minutes before the break when Leinster won a penalty on the half-way line but his kick went wide.
- On a good day the kick would have been easy, but the wind blew the ball on to the post to rebound out.
- Six minutes from the break Henderson tried his luck again with a penalty but sent the kick wide.
- Jones maintained his perfect record with a superb kick from the touchline.
- Captain Michelle Harrison took the kick and floated the ball high across the six-yard box.
- As Hastings's kick sailed wide, the normally restrained England winger Rory Underwood let slip a four-letter expletive in surprise.
- With a brilliant kick from the touchline Cooke ended the scoring.
- A goal with the last kick of the ball, four minutes in to injury time, saw the score end up honours even at 4-4.
- A gust of wind resulted in one kick from the touchline blowing right back to the corner flag at the same side of the pitch.
- The gloss on a stunning score came when Stephens converted the touchline kick, giving Kendal a 22-0 lead.
- Soon afterwards Schofield steered his side forward with an excellent 50 yard kick and only his subsequent poor pass prevented Redcar increasing their lead.
- Bower produced some gymnastics to keep the ball in play with an overhead kick across the goal-mouth.
- He sent another effort narrowly wide of the post with almost the final kick of the first half.
- As a receiver, Hall adjusts well to poorly thrown balls and also can return kicks.
- Doncaster went ahead after three minutes when York failed to deal with an up-and-under kick and the home scrum-half scored unopposed.
- Wharfedale had chance to go ahead with a penalty but the kick was wide of the posts.
- With 1 minute remaining plus injury time the score was 0-0 but with the last kicks of the game the opposition nicked two goals.
- They made a flying start with a penalty in the first minute by Andrew Mawdsley, but that was quickly countered by a successful kick from Paul Branthwaite.
- The kick drifted wide of the posts and the visitors' place in the final was secured after a game that neither side deserved to lose.
- The kick again slid wide, but at 24-18 the game was well and truly alive again.
- They started on fire and an accurate cross kick from scrum half Barry Corbett put right winger Jon Cole in for an early unconverted try.
2A sudden forceful jolt. the shuttle accelerated with a kick Example sentencesExamples - As I looked outside, I realized we were accelerating, but there was no associated kick.
- The aircraft commander, who was at the controls, waited for the kick associated with the missile release.
- There is a sudden kick on the rod and yes, it is indeed a fish, a perch that stays deep for several minutes before, slowly, it begins to swim to the surface.
- There was a sudden mighty kick, like a giant was shaking the ship, and Lazarus could feel his insides trembling.
- 2.1 The recoil of a gun when discharged.
Example sentencesExamples - He had conditioned himself to ignore the kick and the sharp report, and to hold the sights steady and press the trigger smoothly.
- He felt the kick of the sniper rifle in his hands.
- Many recruits were worried about the kick of a rifle.
- She could see that he hadn't been lying when he had mentioned the gun's vicious kick; some of the students were unprepared and flinched backwards on impact.
3informal in singular The sharp stimulant effect of something, especially alcohol. Example sentencesExamples - My girlfriend had vegetarian fajitas that were perfectly spiced to give a kick to a rather bland selection of vegetables.
- Incredibly moist and flavorful, with the wonderful taste of orange, the subtle kick of ginger and a delicious sugar crust, it also looks beautiful.
- Those who drink Corona beer often shove a lime wedge into the bottle to give the beer a citrus kick.
- The Glühwein has quite a kick, emphasised by a pungent aroma that brings tears to the eyes.
- It comes in twelve different fruit flavours and the alcoholic kick is provided by schnapps.
- It tastes like watered down barley water with a bit of an alcoholic kick.
- It has quite a kick, emphasised by a pungent aroma that brings tears to the eyes and a hanky to the nose.
- This wine has a deep purple colour, with a lively kick of dark fruit and warm cinnamon spices.
- Cannabis is often an intermediary drug, used before the user moves onto harder drugs, when the kick of cannabis wears off.
Synonyms potency, stimulant effect, alcoholic effect, strength, power, punch - 3.1 A thrill of pleasurable, often reckless excitement.
rich kids turning to crime just for kicks I get such a kick out of driving a race car Example sentencesExamples - He is passionate about football and gets a real kick out of seeing the children in his club succeed.
- We have found too, that these younger patients have a great deal to contribute to our entire treatment programme through their energy and enthusiasm and that they get a kick out of doing so.
- Horror fans should get a kick out of this obscure little film.
- She has a 15-year-old son who goes to Orchard Park, where teenagers were photographed sniffing petrol for kicks.
- He's the type of guy who'll try anything once for kicks.
- Who did not get a kick out of seeing Bono - Irish to his boots - unveil that Stars and Stripes jacket at the Super Bowl?
- And for a growing number of people, putting a needle in your vein for kicks is an acceptable thing to do.
- Little did they know, this is what she did for kicks.
- There is, it seems, a certain sort of human pathology, male pathology, to which this appeals, just as serial killers get a kick from their power over the powerless.
- He denied that pupils at his school were taking horse tranquillisers for kicks or that they were less than communicative because of their drug habits.
- We just get a big kick out of seeing our names in the paper…that's what drives people like us into this business
- The Adventure Show focuses on fanatics who get their kicks out of non-traditional sports with an emphasis on extremes and endurance.
- Extra undercover officers will patrol city estates in a bid to curb the antics of youngsters who steal cars for kicks or take them for use in other crimes and then burn them out.
- Some people seem to get a kick out of taking this as it is illegal, so if it was legal, then there wouldn't be anyone taking it.
- They get their kicks from destroying property, scaring people and inflicting pain.
Synonyms thrill, excitement, stimulation, tingle - 3.2with modifier A specified temporary interest or enthusiasm.
Example sentencesExamples - I would suggest that increased numbers in 2003 had more to do with last year's hot summer than a sudden health kick by visitors.
- It's part of the whole nostalgia kick, I suspect.
- America is on one of its prohibitionist kicks, treating drugs as something utterly satanic.
- The last couple of years I've been on a big Motown kick.
- I went on a health kick this summer, and weaned myself almost entirely off donuts.
- Lately I have been back on the self-examination kick.
Synonyms craze, enthusiasm, obsession, mania, passion, preoccupation, fixation
4kicksUS informal Soft sports shoes; sneakers. when your energy or motivation dips, a new pair of kicks can get you moving again Example sentencesExamples - In simple terms, the deal meant that each team had a 'Home' and an 'Away' coloured pair of kicks to match their jerseys.
- As usual in every All-Star Weekend, they strike their best pose and wear the latest thing in kicks.
- These colorful mesh and sequin kicks are the perfect pair of "emergency shoes."
- The Nets all wore black socks and black kicks last night.
- It's just that when your coworker complimented you on your new kicks, you weren't expecting her to go out and buy the exact same ones.
- He's rocking his dad's old Sixers jersey and the red, white and blue adidas kicks that were specially made for him a while back.
- For weeks, Luis had bugged his father about the hot new Air Jordan Retro 5 kicks that were coming out.
- You have only two days left to enter to win a hot new pair of Converse kicks.
- Nearly 30% of respondents wear their kicks just for kicks - not as a get-up to participate in any sport.
- Reebok apparently declined to sign him to an endorsement deal, ending their bidding war with Nike for #8 to wear their kicks.
- I never knew his name, we just called him "boots" after the Western kicks he wore always.
- Meaning he could wear a different pair of kicks - and we're talking different individual makes here, no two alike - every day for five years.
- We cashed-up city folk spend a good deal of time trying and buying new kicks.
- To keep it fair and square, all names will be put into the tank and the lucky winners will be able to snap up a very collectable pair of kicks for only $250.
- Michael Jordan apparently wears one pair of kicks to warm up in and another to play in.
- Worn-out soles will wear out your knees: replace them or pick up a new pair of kicks.
- If your idea of an appropriate outfit to wear to the grocery store is a flannel shirt, green sweatpants and a pink pair of these kicks, stay in the house.
- What's your favorite pair of kicks?
- The money that leaves Spanish Harlem or Bedford Stuyvesant to purchase the latest, most expensive pair of kicks most likely isn't going back into those neighborhoods.
- Spend a foot-wrenching jog in the wrong pair of kicks and your adventures in the asphalt trade promise to be as enjoyable as an Enron stock return.
- First, he reported that MJ wouldn't be wearing retro kicks for the game because they give him blisters.
Phrases kick (some) ass (or butt) vulgar slang Act in a forceful or aggressive manner.
kick someone's ass (or butt) vulgar slang Beat, dominate, or defeat someone.
Example sentencesExamples - I always wanted to have a rich relative who kicked the bucket and left all his money to me.
- When rich Americans kick the bucket, they invariably will a good sum to their alma maters, pet charities or research institutions.
- Heck, I've had 2 dramatically different careers already and am contemplating a good few more before I kick the bucket!
- I see the old man finally kicked the bucket.
- This would be an optimum age to kick the bucket, I feel, as I'd never have to suffer the indignity of reaching 40.
- Even though the British Empire had long since kicked the bucket, the expats could still be found pretty much anywhere the Brits had a former colony.
- He wanted to do his own thing and he wanted to do it now - not down the track when his father finally kicked the bucket.
- The film's title refers to a wish list that two terminally ill men try to fulfill before each kicks the bucket.
- But in spite of the fact, when he kicks the bucket and departs his mortal coil, it is going to be one of the biggest funerals in the Bahamas.
- If I kick the bucket, half of everything immediately goes to the government, because we're not legally married.
kick the can down the road informal Put off confronting a difficult issue or making an important decision, typically on a continuing basis. I appreciate that he doesn't want to raise taxes, but sooner or later you have to stop kicking the can down the road Example sentencesExamples - For months, in response to the Greek crisis, the eurozone's leaders have been kicking the tin can down the road.
- We have kicked the can down the road for a generation.
- "It kicks the can down the road for a slight amount of time," Mr. Stone said.
- Probably in December they'll kick the can down the road which is what Washington always does.
- They already kicked the can down the road in the debt ceiling agreement that led to this.
- For our part, we would greatly prefer to deal with the adjustments that are necessary for robust economic growth, rather than just kicking the can down the road.
- We can always kick the can down the road by saying now's not the right time for anything we don't feel like doing.
- They have been kicking the can down the road for two years.
- However, he viewed the federal government's actions as simply kicking the can down the road without solving the fundamental problems.
- In politics there is always a temptation to kick the can down the road and hope that problems might disappear.
Synonyms delay, put off doing something, postpone action, defer action, be dilatory, use delaying tactics, stall, temporize, play for time, play a waiting game, dally, drag one's feet, drag one's heels, take one's time
a kick in the pants (or up the backside) informal An unwelcome surprise that prompts or forces fresh effort. the competition will be healthy, but we needed a kick in the pants Example sentencesExamples - Stuttgart gave me a kick up the backside, and I re-focused and came out better last year - it was what I needed.
- Failing to qualify for the final two rounds of the St Andrews Links Trophy last week gave me a kick up the backside which I fully deserved.
- She is there for me when things go wrong - and when I need a kick up the backside.
- He is a very good coach in every respect, the first guy to give you a kick up the backside but also the first to give you a pat on the back when he feels you deserve it.
- Today, if I was the president, I would dismiss the coach and line the players up against a wall and give them all a kick up the backside.
- It is easy to dismiss Ivanov, alongside Chekhov's other plays, as being full of melancholy middle class moaners who need a kick up the backside.
- We think we've got a good team but, every now and then, we could use a kick up the backside.
- Sometimes people need empathy; sometimes they need a kick in the pants.
- We had a bit of a kick up the backside at half time, which we deserved, and that spurred us on.
- He strikes me as a guy who needs a lot of love - maybe a lot of love and a kick in the pants.
informal A grave setback or disappointment. this broken promise is a kick in the teeth for football Example sentencesExamples - We are trying to improve the facilities all the time and make the ground more presentable and this sort of thing is just a kick in the teeth.
- The chairman described the council's decision to reject the scheme as a kick in the teeth.
- This is a kick in the teeth for the people of Salford and an outrageous waste of taxpayers' money.
- To hear from the Government that their regiment is about to be scrapped is a kick in the teeth for the brave men and women of our armed services.
- Residents living close to the proposed multi-storey office and car park complex in Abbey Street said revised plans for the site are a kick in the teeth for the local community.
- This is nothing more than a kick in the teeth for the local residents who have supported the club for many years.
- Further restrictions on working time would be a kick in the teeth for many firms, particularly smaller ones.
- This is a kick in the teeth for the members of the council who worked so hard.
- For the poorly paid staff, who earn from £9,000 to £12,000 per year, this was a kick in the teeth.
- The European Court of Justice has recently delivered a kick in the teeth to British people who want to work longer hours.
kick someone in the teeth informal Cause someone a grave setback or disappointment. Example sentencesExamples - Jamie Johnstone said staff felt like they had been kicked in the teeth after all their hard work building up the business.
- We've been kicked in the teeth so many times over the years but have always managed to keep on going, but this time, we're in real trouble.
- Scotland have an uncanny knack of finding heartbreaking ways of exiting tournaments, of getting the nation's hopes up before kicking them in the teeth.
- Why is it, as soon as I show even the faintest sign of optimism, something happens to really kick me in the teeth?
- She launched a scathing attack on the sport's main authorities - insisting she has been kicked in the teeth by the very people who should be supporting her.
- On the 60th anniversary of D-Day they patted us on the back… nine months later they kick us in the teeth.
- But one day the world kicks you in the teeth and you don't have any choice but to see things the way they really are.
- You think you're going in the right direction and then a performance like that really kicks you in the teeth so all the lads were very disappointed and so were the staff.
- I've always wanted to play cricket for my country, so it felt like they were kicking me in the teeth.
- Police officers must feel like they are kicked in the teeth every time they see someone they locked up back on the streets when they worked so hard to put them away in the first place.
Be annoyed with oneself for doing something foolish or missing an opportunity. Example sentencesExamples - We were really kicking ourselves afterwards at having missed such a golden opportunity.
- If you miss this show you'll be kicking yourself all winter.
- I dare say that the people who said no are kicking themselves.
- Well I will continue to kick myself over the fact that I did not sell when they hit $150.
- Don't miss it when you get the chance to see it or you'll be kicking yourself when you finally do.
- You'll be kicking yourself Monday if you don't take ten minutes today to read this.
- They'll be kicking themselves for the mistakes they made.
- Every broadcaster is moving to those bigger pictures, and you will soon be kicking yourself if you buy a set that has the old screen shape, unless it's a portable for the bedroom.
- Many people will be pleased that they got in just in time, but even more will be kicking themselves that they missed out.
- Anyone who left last Saturday's league match early will be kicking themselves.
kick someone/something to the curb informal Reject someone or something. things get complicated for Alfie when he's kicked to the curb by his girlfriend Example sentencesExamples - There's barely a happy moment to be found, with Cole either recovering from heartbreak, overcoming betrayal or kicking someone to the curb.
- Guy meets girl, girl kicks guy to the curb.
- We see her untimely pregnancy, her ill-fated marriage, and her poor attempts at being a single mother after she kicks Ray to the curb.
- Shouldn't Kim have kicked Steve to the curb?
- Many years ago, when my wife and I were just dating, she kicked me to the curb.
- I've been kicked to the curb enough times to know that religion matters in a relationship, even when it doesn't to an individual.
- She seems to have gotten over her previous misadventure of being kicked to the curb on her wedding day by Basil.
- Guy meets girl, girl kicks guy to the curb, his self-esteem, crushed.
- Not a lot has changed in the battle of the sexes guy meets girl, girl kicks guy to the curb, his self-esteem crushed.
- Something he apparently hasn't been able or willing to do since I kicked him to the curb.
kick up a fuss (or a stink) informal Object loudly or publicly to something. Example sentencesExamples - Councillors in Ulverston are kicking up a stink about the amount of litter in the town.
- A husband and wife kicked up a stink after discovering raw sewage in their street.
- So if you disapprove of this approach to public artworks, now is the time to start kicking up a stink.
- I didn't think that it would be a big problem but he really kicked up a fuss when I told him about the accident.
- People need to shop around and not be afraid of kicking up a fuss if they feel dissatisfied.
- Residents in Witham are again kicking up a stink over the aroma emanating from the town's sewage works.
- It is the liberal elite, not the public, that kicks up a fuss about gay MPs.
- And if schoolkids are being prevented from using this forum then it is time we all kicked up a stink.
- If he kicks up a fuss, you know there's more to the relationship than meets the eye.
- This woman kicked up a fuss and demanded to be moved to another table.
informal Remove someone from an influential position in a business by giving them an ostensible promotion. Example sentencesExamples - Although this varies by organization, the front-line people are often all too eager to kick you upstairs.
- In March, he was kicked upstairs to head the World Bank.
- Gromyko had been one of Gorbachev's supporters and he was kicked upstairs to become head of state.
- I wonder how many of CCSD's top administrators were appointed in order to kick them upstairs.
- Thousands of letters and telegrams from small businessmen, farmers and labor leaders urged him to resist all attempts to kick him upstairs.
- As part of the deal, he would have become chairman (but not CEO) - which was simply a way to kick him upstairs.
- Stop waiting for your supervisor to kick you upstairs.
- If they can't get on, the prime minister has to sack his chancellor, make him foreign secretary, kick him upstairs to the Lords as lord chancellor or see his Cabinet disintegrate.
- Clifford removed General William Westmoreland as Vietnam commander, kicking him upstairs to become Army chief of staff and replacing him with General Creighton Abrams.
- But Republican Party bosses, fearful of his independence, managed to kick him upstairs to the vice presidency.
kick someone when they are down Cause further misfortune to someone who is already in a difficult situation. Example sentencesExamples - And there is no honor in kicking somebody when they are down.
- Instead of kicking them when they are down they should be extending a helping hand to the unemployed people.
- In most cases, I hate seeing the press kick somebody when they're down.
- It's very easy to kick someone when they're down, but if I start the season well, then the British tabloids will get behind me, because that's what sells papers
- Talk about kicking someone when they are down.
- There's an understandable reluctance to kick a man when he's down, and most commentators have found something nice to say about the fallen leader.
- It's not fair to kick someone when they are down when nothing is proven.
informal Inform oneself about the quality of a product, service, etc. before buying. borrowers should be sure to kick the tires on that offer before signing up they kicked the tires but decided not to buy the property
Phrasal Verbs Express resentment at or frustration with (an institution or restriction). Example sentencesExamples - Working in television provided him with training, a secure job and an establishment to kick against, and he remains grateful for all of this.
- I wonder whether there wasn't a point at which they kicked against their upbringing, as most teenagers do?
- She was always rebellious, kicking against the established ways of doing things, and one of the forms this took was marrying in haste, and for love, one of the first men who came along.
- All my life I've railed and kicked against dogma and rhetoric: I've stuck my neck out.
- Inevitably, self-obsessed Gwen kicks against the system, until learning lessons the hard way.
- And, coming late to the development game, its 150 miles of beautiful coastline are still largely unexploited - a big asset in a market that is starting to kick against mindless overdevelopment.
- Taboo thrived in a period of right-wing politics, the Thatcher / Reagan years, and it's proof of a basic human need to have something to kick against.
- Sheffield always kicks against the national trend and one thing I discovered over the years is that just because something happened nationally does not mean it is going to happen in Sheffield.
- He was a musician, too: that gave him carte blanche to be wild, to refuse to conform, to kick against the domesticity that I was creating around him.
- It is the job of the journalist, he says, to kick against authority.
Synonyms resist, rebel against, oppose, fight against, struggle against, refuse to accept
1(of a thing) lie unwanted or unexploited. the idea has been kicking around for more than a year now Example sentencesExamples - Working in a bank, it's odd to see that people still have old notes and coins kicking about which they bring in from time to time to exchange.
- The notion has been kicking around since late November and the very fact that it has taken me until late January to look at it shows where it figures on my Richter Scale.
- Well, thankfully I don't have a gun kicking around my New York apartment.
- That debate's been kicking around for decades now.
- Some of the songs on here have been kicking around for years.
- That's an awful long time for an application to be kicking around the patent office.
- Those pics are nearly 10 years old, they were kicking about on the net months ago.
- Then, a couple years later, I was writing a movie with Chris at Paramount, and the producers asked me if I had anything kicking around, because they liked the work I was doing.
- What sort of people have £50,000 kicking around?
- Virtually any company with about $20,000 kicking around could find a game designer to produce them a fun game, which they can then give away for free as advertising.
- 1.1(of a person) drift idly from place to place.
I kicked around picking up odd jobs Example sentencesExamples - Kelly Willis has kicked around record labels nearly as much as her family kicked around the country while she was growing up.
- In 1970, after a few years kicking around the live music scene, Collins answered a classified ad seeking a drummer and joined Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford to form Genesis.
- Hey is it just me, or is her hair ludicrously overdone for someone who just kicks around school and Ramsay Street all day?
- Meantime, he kicks around 13th Street, living in an apartment above the newsstand.
- Lowe has been kicking around the British folk music scene long enough to have influenced many of his contemporaries.
- Bands who have been kicking around for a couple of years just aren't interested.
- Wolfe's been kicking around frat houses to do his research.
- We were kicking around Napa when we stumbled upon the CIA's campus, and I remember hearing their food was great and their prices were relatively cheap.
- They appear to have been kicking around Milwaukee for a good decade now, putting out cassettes and such.
- It is a second career for both of them: trained in horticulture, the Whittles went abroad in their late twenties, kicking around for five years before settling down on Vancouver Island, Canada.
Treat someone roughly or without respect. Example sentencesExamples - I've already taken a few knocks and expect to get kicked about a bit, but I can deal with it.
- You've been kicking us around for three years, and we've had enough of it.
- I spent four years in the army to free a bunch of Dutchmen and Frenchmen, and I'm hanged if I'm going to let the Alabama version of the Germans kick me around when I get home.
- Why are conservative pundits still kicking him around?
- But 10 days ago a pitiless thug broke into her home, kicked her around like a football and stole her life savings.
- Four armed men forced him out of the car, put a bag over his head after kicking him around and threw him into a minivan.
- Looks like whoever did this kicked him around, I suspect some of his ribs are at least cracked.
- She tied me up to the tree and started kicking me around until I lost my consciousness.
- Talk about excessive force: they subdue the guy and then continue to beat him up and kick him around.
- Once she learned I wasn't going to hit her or kick her around, she thought she could get away with murder.
Synonyms abuse, mistreat, maltreat, treat disrespectfully, treat inconsiderately, push about, push around, boss about, boss around, trample on, take for granted
kick something around (or about) Discuss an idea casually or idly. Example sentencesExamples - For the first time in the band's history, they had problems coming up with something fresh and the more they kicked ideas around or worked them up in concert the less happy they were.
- The idea for an Office of Homeland Security had been kicked around for years.
- ‘These are generally brainstorming sessions where you kick interesting ideas around; you raise issues and discuss issues,’ he said ‘It's a mini think-tank more than anything.’
- It gets scrutinized and argued about and kicked around and analyzed.
- Chris, Bart, and I have been kicking around the idea of doing a rock opera for four years now.
- The questions are kicked around by politicians, parents and educationists every August, but the students who take the exams have views too.
- The book has been kicked about as a film project since the late 1970s - it was once to have been a TV movie starring John Travolta.
- We've been kicking around ideas for a change in basic format for quite some time now, and our Managing Editor is the driving force behind the entire scheme.
- It would be helpful if we could kick some ideas around on how to meet your goal.
- Vendors were contacted and ideas were kicked around by all parties (with mixed results).
Synonyms discuss, talk over, debate, thrash out, consider, moot, toy with, play with, argue the pros and cons of
Example sentencesExamples - Instead, I'm going to kick back with a few glasses of red, relax, and enjoy what I have not had in twenty days: a weekend.
- Picnics are a time to kick back, relax and enjoy tasty, yet easy-to-prepare food with friends.
- I was more than ready to kick back and enjoy the simple Sunday brunch.
- After the race, I was able to kick back and enjoy a nice dinner with our family, while Michael was resting up for his race on Sunday.
- It's an ideal place to kick back and unwind in one of the most exquisite corners of Scotland.
- The past few months have just been go, go, go and at last I'm getting the chance to kick back and relax.
- On our last day, we opted to kick back and enjoy the rustic luxury of our digs at the Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch.
- I don't know why, but sweet ice tea never tastes better than when you're kicking back in a lawn chair, belly full, sleepy eyes drooping as you listen to the band.
- I'm about to take a week's annual leave starting next week so I'm going to be able to kick back and relax a little.
- Everyone looks forward to a carefree summer and time to kick back on the boat and relax.
Synonyms relax, unwind, take it easy, rest, take one's ease, slow down, let up, ease off, ease up, be at leisure, sit back, laze, enjoy oneself
(especially of a device or drug) become activated; come into effect. Example sentencesExamples - That's when my imagination kicks in and I begin to visualise shapes, structures and colours.
- When the New Year's resolution to lose weight kicks in, gyms and diet clubs often have a sharp rise in membership.
- But then you get out there and the adrenaline kicks in and you're away again.
- The top band of council tax kicks in when a house is valued at more than £212,000.
- There is a British resilience and pragmatism that kicks in when something like this happens.
- She put her terror to one side as her professional training kicked in and she provided emergency care.
- If you drive into central London there is a big C painted on the road at the point where the congestion charge kicks in.
- He is soon feeling sick and unhappy as the effects of his high fat diet kick in.
- I think the medication is finally kicking in and that was what I was waiting for.
- The Government will only take on claims after the new enterprise liability scheme kicks in.
Contribute something, especially money. if you subscribe now we'll kick in a bonus Example sentencesExamples - But if you're willing to kick some money in, his investment choices will widen.
- As private donors kicked in more money, every aspect of the blueprint kept changing.
- Both the Soviet Union and the United States were eager to kick in cash and advice.
- If you call them soon enough, surety firms might be able to kick in some money to ease cash shortages as well as to share good ideas and offer lots of expertise.
- It wasn't a cheap flight, but luckily Sara's parents had kicked in a ton of money.
1(of a football game, soccer game, etc.) be started or resumed after a score by a player kicking the ball from a designated spot. Example sentencesExamples - Usually when an FA Cup is played on a Saturday and a TV company wants to show the game live, it kicks off at around 12 noon or 1pm.
- The Ladies' exhibition football match kicks off at the Reebok at 3pm on Sunday.
- The Academy game kicks off at 3.40 pm with the Bulls currently second in the table behind St Helens.
- Our match kicked off at 11.30 the next morning, but we played better and beat Brighton and Hove Albion 1 - 0.
- City's home match with Huddersfield has been switched to Sunday afternoon to avoid a clash with the Scarborough v Chelsea tie, which kicks off at 12.30 pm on Saturday.
- The game kicks off at 2.15 pm to allow spectators and players to watch the televised England v Ireland game.
- The Church of England is allowing clergy to change the time of Sunday's services so they don't clash with the England-Sweden game, which kicks off at 10.30 am.
- The strike took place just hours before a major European football match was due to kick off.
- I actually predicted before the England v France match kicked off that Beckham would retire from International football at the end of the Championship.
- Football matches in the English Premier and Nationwide leagues kicked off six minutes later than usual yesterday.
- 1.1(of a team or player) begin or resume a game by a player kicking a ball from a designated spot.
Example sentencesExamples - Lancashire captain Andy Farrell kicked off in a game delayed by traffic congestion resulting from bad weather earlier in the evening.
- With the flip of a coin, a decision is made as to who kicks off first at a football game.
- Today's referee, Jeff Winter, gets the game underway with Charlton kicking off.
- Their decision comes just three days before the England team kicks off against France as they bid to become Euro 2004 champions in Portugal.
- Costa Rica kick off needing a point from this game.
- 1.2informal (of an event) begin.
Example sentencesExamples - The beer festival kicks off at 7pm on July 29 and tickets are £6.
- He kicked off the campaign with a radio interview in New Hampshire on October 9.
- With the Premiership season kicking off on Saturday, football has dominated the news, but there's plenty of other sport out there.
- The team kicked off their season in a meeting with Washington State University last Saturday.
- Jones was a relative late-starter in professional football when his career kicked off in 1986.
- Bulgaria's new football championship season kicked off last weekend, implementing some interesting changes from past years.
- The National Football League kicks off its new season tonight and for the second year in a row the event is being marked with a live concert.
- The programme itself kicks off at noon with interviews and previews of the games to come.
- David Beckham helped to kick off the latest campaign by the United Nations Children's Fund to end all forms of child exploitation.
- Thousands of people are expected to hit the streets of the East Yorkshire town as the annual event kicks off the countdown to Christmas.
Synonyms start, begin, get going, get off the ground, get under way
Expel or dismiss someone. Example sentencesExamples - Teachers, students and school administrators have joined forces to find ways of dealing with troubled students without kicking them out of school.
- Nazia was also afraid that if she said no to her parents, they'd kick her out of the house.
- California Republicans detest him, and they're torn between working with him to pass a budget or throwing all their weight behind kicking him out of office.
- It is time for FIFA and Uefa to act by kicking the team out of the world cup and send the clearest signal possible that the football authorities will not tolerate racism.
- When she finally told her parents she was pregnant, she said, her mother threw a stool at her and kicked her out of the house.
- A few hours, and even more pitchers of beer later, we were kicked out of the bar, and stumbled back to our friend's place for some short-lived rest.
- Those from Switzerland were kicked out of the country for their beliefs and were relocated to Prussia, which is now part of Germany.
- Military school is where you go after you have been kicked out of at least three boarding schools.
- As a result of this investigation, Elmo was kicked out of the University.
- The implication was clear: ‘Do as I say or you could be kicked out of the country.’
Synonyms expel, send away, eject, turn out, throw out, force out, oust, evict, put out, get rid of
1Remove something, especially shoes, by striking out vigorously with the foot or feet. Example sentencesExamples - I kind of think certain players deserve a kick at the can in some respect, a chance, but you do have to earn it.
- The loft spaces are now condos, the families sold up and moved on, and new people are having a kick at the can selling different things to a different neighborhood.
- When he stepped down, Gillick said it was someone else's turn to ‘take a kick at the can.’
- It's a once in a lifetime opportunity to take a kick at the cat.
- It's time for our annual review of court decisions from the past year - one last opportunity for a kick at the cat where I disagreed with the court and, much less fun, compliments where I think they got it right.
- So, it's a fairly long, cumbersome process, and everyone gets a kick at the can.
- Every few years we are allowed to have a kick at the can to actually choose which privileged bastard will rule us.
- Since 1967, all three major parties have had a kick at the can.
- Our guys would just like a kick at the can.
- My partner and I use VMWare, and we're already debating whether or not we should give VS a kick at the can.
the presidential primary kicks off the political year Example sentencesExamples - A good way to get it out there is to have something with a punch that kicks it off and gets it going - gets it out of the lab and into the world.
- However he will be kicking it off at the very first eDance event, with just as much of a passion.
Origin Late Middle English: of unknown origin. nounkikkɪk archaic An indentation in the bottom of a glass bottle, diminishing the internal capacity.
Origin Mid 19th century: of unknown origin. |