kick around

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Related to kick around: kick up a fuss

kick

(kĭk)

v. kicked, kick·ing, kicks

v.intr.

1. To extend the leg away from the body; strike out with the foot or feet.

2. Sports

a. To score or gain ground by kicking a ball.

b. To punt in football.

c. To propel the body in swimming by moving the legs, as with a flutter kick or frog kick.

3. To recoil: The powerful rifle kicked upon being fired.

4. Informal

a. To express negative feelings vigorously; complain.

b. To oppose by argument; protest.

v.tr.

1. To strike with the foot: kicked the wall in frustration.

2. To propel by striking with the foot: kick a ball.

3. To spring back against suddenly: The rifle kicked my shoulder when I fired it.

4. Sports To score (a goal or point) by kicking a ball.

a. A vigorous blow with the foot.

b. Sports The motion of the legs that propels the body in swimming.

2. Any of various moves in dance in which the leg is extended from the body.

3. A jolting recoil: a rifle with a heavy kick.

4. Slang A complaint; a protest.

5. Slang Power; force: a car engine with a lot of kick.

6. Slang

a. A feeling of pleasurable stimulation: got a kick out of the show.

b. kicks Fun: went bowling just for kicks.

7. Slang Temporary, often obsessive interest: I'm on a science fiction kick.

8. Slang A sudden, striking surprise; a twist.

9. kicks Slang Shoes.

10. Sports

a. The act or an instance of kicking a ball.

b. A kicked ball.

c. The distance spanned by a kicked ball.

Phrasal Verbs:

kick about Informal

To move from place to place.

kick around Informal

1. To treat badly; abuse.

2. To move from place to place: "spent the next three years in Italy, kicking around the country on a motor scooter" (Charles E. Claffey).

3. To give thought or consideration to; ponder or discuss.

kick back

1. To recoil unexpectedly and violently.

2. Informal To take it easy; relax: kicked back at home and watched TV.

3. Slang To return (stolen items).

4. Slang To pay a kickback.

kick in

1. Informal To contribute (one's share): kicked in a few dollars for the office party.

2. Informal To become operative or take effect: "His pituitary kicked in, and his growth was suddenly vertical" (Kenneth Browser).

3. Slang To die.

kick off

1. Sports To begin or resume play with a kickoff.

2. Informal To begin; start: kicked off the promotional tour with a press conference.

3. Slang To die.

kick out Slang

To throw out; dismiss.

kick over

To begin to fire: The engine finally kicked over.

kick up Informal

1. To increase in amount or force; intensify: A sandstorm kicked up while we drove through the desert.

2. To stir up (trouble): kicked up a row.

3. To show signs of disorder: His ulcer has kicked up again.

Idioms:

kick ass/butt Vulgar Slang

To take forceful or harsh measures to achieve an objective.

kick the bucket Slang

To die.

kick the habit Slang

To free oneself of an addiction, as to narcotics or cigarettes.

kick up (one's) heels Informal

To cast off one's inhibitions and have a good time.

kick upstairs Slang

To promote to a higher yet less desirable position.

[Middle English kiken, perhaps of Scandinavian origin.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Switch to new thesaurus

Verb	1.	kick around - be around; be alive or active; "Does the old man still kick around?" kick about, knock about exist, be - have an existence, be extant; "Is there a God?"
	2.	kick around - treat badly; abuse; "They won't have me to kick around any more!" abuse, ill-treat, ill-use, maltreat, mistreat, step - treat badly; "This boss abuses his workers"; "She is always stepping on others to get ahead"
	3.	kick around - discuss lightly; "We bandied around these difficult questions" bandy hash out, talk over, discuss - speak with others about (something); talk (something) over in detail; have a discussion; "We discussed our household budget"

kick

verb

1. Informal. To express negative feelings, especially of dissatisfaction or resentment:

complain, grouch, grump, whine.

Informal: crab, gripe, grouse.

Slang: beef, bellyache, bitch.

2. Informal. To express opposition, often by argument:

challenge, demur, except, expostulate, inveigh, object, protest, remonstrate.

Informal: squawk.

Idioms: set up a squawk, take exception.

3. Slang. To desist from, cease, or discontinue (a habit, for example):

break, cut out, give up, leave off, stop.

phrasal verb
kick around

Informal. To speak together and exchange ideas and opinions about:

bandy (about), discuss, moot, talk over, thrash out (or over), thresh out (or over), toss around.

Informal: hash (over), knock about (or around).

Slang: rap.

Idiom: go into a huddle.

phrasal verb
kick in

1. Informal. To give in common with others:

chip in, contribute, donate, subscribe.

Slang: come across.

2. Slang. To cease living:

decease, demise, depart, die, drop, expire, go, pass away, pass (on), perish, succumb.

Informal: pop off.

Slang: check out, croak, kick off.

Idioms: bite the dust, breathe one's last, cash in, give up the ghost, go to one's grave, kick the bucket, meet one's end, pass on to the Great Beyond, turn up one's toes.

phrasal verb
kick off

1. Informal. To go about the initial step in doing (something):

approach, begin, commence, embark, enter, get off, inaugurate, initiate, institute, launch, lead off, open, set about, set out, set to, start, take on, take up, undertake.

Idioms: get cracking, get going, get the show on the road.

2. Slang. To cease living:

decease, demise, depart, die, drop, expire, go, pass away, pass (on), perish, succumb.

Informal: pop off.

Slang: check out, croak, kick in.

Idioms: bite the dust, breathe one's last, cash in, give up the ghost, go to one's grave, kick the bucket, meet one's end, pass on to the Great Beyond, turn up one's toes.

phrasal verb
kick out

Slang. To put out by force:

bump, dismiss, eject, evict, expel, oust, throw out.

Informal: chuck.

Slang: boot (out), bounce.

Idioms: give someone the boot, give someone the heave-ho, send packing, show someone the door, throw out on one's ear.

noun

1. Slang. An expression of dissatisfaction or a circumstance regarded as a cause for such expression:

complaint, grievance.

Informal: gripe, grouse.

Slang: beef.

Idiom: bone to pick.

2. Slang. The act of expressing strong or reasoned opposition:

challenge, demur, exception, expostulation, objection, protest, protestation, remonstrance, remonstration, squawk.

3. Slang. A stimulating or intoxicating effect:

Informal: punch, sting, wallop.

4. Slang. A strong, pleasant feeling of excitement or stimulation:

lift, thrill.

Informal: wallop.

Slang: bang, boot, high.

5. Slang. A temporary concentration of interest:

Slang: trip.

6. Slang. A clever, unexpected new trick or method:

gimmick, twist.

Informal: kicker, wrinkle.

Slang: angle.

Translations

ipotizzare

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