I've no business to look at 'em; but when I come to town I just kick over the traces.
The horses that kick over the traces will have to be put in a corral.
She's not meant for this humdrum place, and she may kick over the traces.'
When she thought of it, she felt inclined to kick over the traces.
Some horses show off better with it, and some are enraged and kick over the traces.
He is inclined to kick over the traces, but I'll whip him in a little.
Id just like to kick over that sign, Cleo whispered to Louise.
The horses that kick over the traces will have to be put in corral.
She is angry—she doesn't know what we mean—she'll kick over the milk!
So there were no more "fool thoughts" as to how a man might "kick over the traces."
late 14c., "to strike out with the foot" (earliest in biblical phrase now usually rendered as kick against the pricks), of uncertain origin, perhaps from Old Norse kikna "bend backwards, sink at the knees." "The doubts OED has about the Scandinavian origin of kick are probably unfounded" [Liberman]. Related: Kicked; kicking.
Figurative sense of "complain, protest, rebel against" (late 14c.) probably is from the Bible verse. Slang sense of "die" is attested from 1725 (kick the wind was slang for "be hanged," 1590s; see also bucket). Meaning "to end one's drug habit" is from 1936. Kick in "contribute" is from 1908; kick out "expel" is from 1690s. To kick oneself in self-reproach is from 1891. The children's game of kick the can is attested from 1891.
1520s, from kick (v.). Meaning "recoil (of a gun) when fired" is from 1826. Meaning "surge or fit of pleasure" (often as kicks) is from 1941; originally literally, "stimulation from liquor or drugs" (1844). The kick "the fashion" is c.1700.
Related Terms
noun
verb
Related Terms
get a kick out of someone or something, on a roll, sidekick
[pocket sense fr late 17thcentury kicks, ''breeches'']