kick-up

American  

[kik-uhp] / ˈkɪkˌʌp /

Or kickup

noun

1. a violent disturbance or argument.

2. kick.

3. kip.

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kick up British  

verb

1. informal to cause (trouble, a fuss, etc)

2. See bobsy-die

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kick up Idioms  

1. Malfunction, cause trouble or pain, as in My grandmother's arthritis is kicking up again. [Colloquial; first half of 1900s] Also see act up; also subsequent entries beginning with kick up.

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Etymology

Origin of kick-up

First recorded in 1790–95; kick ( def. ) + up ( def. )

Example Sentences

He describes his campaign as the "kick-up the backside" for Wales to make them an important part of national culture to bring supporters, young and old, together.

From BBC • Aug. 12, 2022

“It’ll kick-up this afternoon over southern Kansas and about all of Oklahoma, with rain, wind gusts of 65 mph, hail and tornadoes.”

From Reuters • Apr. 17, 2019

I mean, my biggest fear is that we get a big kick-up in the economy and suddenly it’s only $800 million.

From New York Times • Jan. 6, 2011

Also check that the kick-up mechanism is operating properly.

From Time Magazine Archive

One night I attended a big kick-up given by one of the Rajahs in honour of some affair or other.

From Australia Revenged by Boomerang, pseud.

Related Words

• commotion
• confusion
• controversy
• excitement
• flap
• furor
• hassle
• ruckus
• stink