kick

[ kik ]

/ kɪk /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR kick ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to strike with the foot or feet: to kick the ball; to kick someone in the shins.

to drive, force, make, etc., by or as if by kicks.

Football. to score (a field goal or a conversion) by place-kicking or drop-kicking the ball.

Informal. to make (a car) increase in speed, especially in auto racing: He kicked his car into high gear.

to strike in recoiling: The gun kicked his shoulder.

Slang. to give up or break (a drug addiction): Has he kicked the habit?

Poker. raise(def 24).

Chiefly South Atlantic States. to reject as a suitor; jilt: He courted her for two years—then she kicked him.

verb (used without object)

to make a rapid, forceful thrust with the foot or feet: He kicked at the ball. You have to kick rapidly when using a crawl stroke.

to have a tendency to strike with the foot or feet: That horse kicks when you walk into his stall.

Informal. to resist, object, or complain: What's he got to kick about?

to recoil, as a firearm when fired.

to be actively or vigorously involved: He's still alive and kicking.

noun

the act of kicking; a blow or thrust with the foot or feet.

power or disposition to kick: That horse has a mean kick.

Informal. an objection or complaint.

Informal.

thrill; pleasurable excitement: His biggest kick comes from telling about the victory.
a strong but temporary interest, often an activity: Making mobiles is his latest kick.

Informal.

a stimulating or intoxicating quality in alcoholic drink.
vim, vigor, or energy.

Football.

an instance of kicking the ball.
any method of kicking the ball: place kick.
a kicked ball.
the distance such a ball travels.
a turn at kicking the ball.

a recoil, as of a gun.

Slang. a pocket: He kept his wallet in his side kick.

kicks, Slang. shoe(def 1).

Glassmaking.

a solid glass base or an indentation at the base of drinking glasses, bottles, etc., that reduces the liquid capacity of the glassware.
Also called punt, kick-up. an indentation at the base of a wine bottle, originally for trapping the sediment.

Verb Phrases

kick about, to move from place to place frequently: He kicked about a good deal before settling down.

kick around, Informal.

to treat (someone) harshly or inconsiderately.
to consider, discuss, or speculate about (a proposal, project, etc.): We kicked around various ideas for raising money.
to experiment with.
to pass time idly; wander from place to place aimlessly: We just kicked around for a year after college.
to remain unused, unemployed, or unnoticed: The script has been kicking around for years.

kick back,

to recoil, especially vigorously or unexpectedly.
Informal. to give someone a kickback.
Slang. to return (stolen property, money, etc.) to the owner.
to relax: Let's just kick back and enjoy the weekend.

kick in,

to contribute one's share, especially in money.
Slang. to die.
to become operational; activate; go into effect: The air conditioning kicks in when the temperature reaches 80°F.

kick off,

Football. to begin play or begin play again by a kickoff: The Giants won the toss and elected to kick off.
Slang. to die.
to initiate (an undertaking, meeting, etc.); begin: A rally tomorrow night will kick off the campaign.

kick on, to switch on; turn on: He kicked on the motor and we began to move.

kick out, Informal.

to oust or eject: They have been kicked out of the country club.
to fail; give out: The power kicked out and the room went black.
to separate off, as for review or inspection: The computer kicked out the information in a split second.
Surfing. to turn a surfboard by shifting the weight to the rear, causing the surfboard to come down over the top of a wave, in order to stop a ride.

kick over, Informal. (of an internal-combustion engine) to begin ignition; turn over: The engine kicked over a few times but we couldn't get it started.

kick up,

to drive or force upward by kicking.
to stir up (trouble); make or cause (a disturbance, scene, etc.): They kicked up a tremendous row.
(especially of a machine part) to move rapidly upward: The lever kicks up, engaging the gear.
kip⁵(def 2).

RELATED WORDS

advance, promote

Nearby words

kibitka, kibitz, kibitzer, kiblah, kibosh, kick, kick a habit, kick about, kick around, kick ass, kick back

Idioms

kick ass, Slang: Vulgar.

to act harshly or use force in order to gain a desired result.
to defeat soundly.

Also Slang, kick butt.

kick in the ass, Slang: Vulgar. kick(def 35a).

kick in the pants, Informal.

someone or something that is very exciting, enjoyable, amusing, etc.: I think you'll like her, she's a real kick in the pants.
kick(def 36).

kick in the teeth, an abrupt, often humiliating setback; rebuff: Her refusal even to talk to me was a kick in the teeth.

kick over the traces. trace²(def 3).

kick the bucket, Slang. bucket(def 15).

kick the tin, Australian. to give a donation; contribute.

kick upstairs. upstairs(def 8).

Origin of kick

1350–1400; Middle English kiken (v.); origin uncertain

SYNONYMS FOR kick

1 boot.

11 remonstrate; oppose.

11, 16 grumble, growl, grouch, moan; protest.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR kick ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formskick·a·ble, adjectivekick·less, adjectiveout·kick, verb (used with object)o·ver·kick, verb (used with object)

Definition for kick upstairs (2 of 2)

upstairs

[ uhp-stairz ]

/ ˈʌpˈstɛərz /

adverb

up the stairs; to or on an upper floor.

Informal. in the mind: to be a little weak upstairs.

to or at a higher level of authority: You may have to take the matter upstairs.

Military Slang. at or to a higher level in the air.

adjective

Also up·stair. of, relating to, or situated on an upper floor: an upstairs window; an upstairs apartment.

noun, plural up·stairs.

(usually used with a singular verb) an upper story or stories; the part of a building or house that is above the ground floor: The upstairs of this house is entirely rented.

a higher command or level of authority: We can't take action till we have approval from upstairs.

Origin of upstairs

1590–1600; up- + stairs

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for kick upstairs (1 of 3)

kick upstairs

verb

(tr, adverb) informal to promote to a nominally higher but effectively powerless position

British Dictionary definitions for kick upstairs (2 of 3)

kick

/ (kɪk) /

verb

(tr) to drive or impel with the foot

(tr) to hit with the foot or feet

(intr) to strike out or thrash about with the feet, as in fighting or swimming

(intr) to raise a leg high, as in dancing

(of a gun, etc) to recoil or strike in recoiling when fired

(tr) rugby

to make (a conversion or a drop goal) by means of a kick
to score (a goal) by means of a kicked conversion

(tr) soccer to score (a goal) by a kick

(intr) athletics to put on a sudden spurt

(intr) to make a sudden violent movement

(intr) cricket (of a ball) to rear up sharply

(intr sometimes foll by against) informal to object or resist

(intr) informal to be active and in good health (esp in the phrase alive and kicking)

informal to change gear in (a car, esp a racing car)he kicked into third and passed the bigger car

(tr) informal to free oneself of (an addiction, etc)to kick heroin; to kick the habit

kick against the pricks See prick (def. 20)

kick into touch

rugby soccer to kick the ball out of the playing area and into touchSee touch (def. 15)
informal to take some temporizing action so that a problem is shelved or a decision postponed

kick one's heels to wait or be kept waiting

kick over the traces See trace 2 (def. 3)

kick the bucket slang to die

kick up one's heels informal to enjoy oneself without inhibition

noun

a thrust or blow with the foot

any of certain rhythmic leg movements used in swimming

the recoil of a gun or other firearm

informal a stimulating or exciting quality or effect (esp in the phrases get a kick out of or for kicks)

athletics a sudden spurt, acceleration, or boost

a sudden violent movement

informal the sudden stimulating or intoxicating effect of strong alcoholic drink or certain drugs

informal power or force

slang a temporary enthusiasmhe's on a new kick every week

kick in the pants slang

a reprimand or scolding designed to produce greater effort, enthusiasm, etc, in the person receiving it
a setback or disappointment

kick in the teeth slang a humiliating rebuff

Derived Formskickable, adjective

Word Origin for kick

C14 kiken, perhaps of Scandinavian origin

British Dictionary definitions for kick upstairs (3 of 3)

upstairs

/ (ˈʌpˈstɛəz) /

adverb

up the stairs; to or on an upper floor or level

informal to or into a higher rank or office

informal in the minda little weak upstairs

kick upstairs informal to promote to a higher rank or position, esp one that carries less power

noun (functioning as singular or plural)

an upper floor or level
(as modifier)an upstairs room

British informal, old-fashioned the masters and mistresses of a household collectively, esp of a large houseCompare downstairs (def. 3)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for kick upstairs (1 of 3)

kick

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.

Word Origin and History for kick upstairs (1 of 3)

upstairs

1590s (adj.), from up + stairs (see stair). The noun is first attested 1872. Meaning "characteristic of upstairs life" (in private rooms of a household, as opposed to servants' quarters) is recorded from 1942.

He [Halifax] had said he had known many kicked down stairs, but he never knew any kicked up stairs before. [Gilbert Burnet, supplement to "History of My own Time," from his original memoirs, c.1697]

Word Origin and History for kick upstairs (2 of 3)

kick

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.

Idioms and Phrases with kick upstairs (1 of 3)

kick upstairs

Promote someone to a higher but less desirable position, especially one with less authority. For example, Paul never forgave the company for kicking him upstairs at age 55. This expression alludes to its antonym, kick downstairs, simply meaning “eject.” [Mid-1900s]

Idioms and Phrases with kick upstairs (2 of 3)

kick

In addition to the idioms beginning with kick

kick a habit
kick around
kick ass
kick back
kick in
kick in the pants, a
kick it
kick off
kick oneself
kick out
kick over the traces
kick the bucket
kick the habit
kick up
kick up a fuss
kick up one's heels
kick upstairs

also see:

alive and kicking
for fun (kicks)
get a bang (kick) out of

Idioms and Phrases with kick upstairs (3 of 3)

upstairs

see kick upstairs.

kick

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verb (used without object)

noun

Verb Phrases

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RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of kick

Definition for.css-ylq2vz{color:#1a1a1a;} kick upstairs (2 of 2)

upstairs

adverb

adjective

Origin of upstairs

British Dictionary definitions for kick upstairs (1 of 3)

kick upstairs

verb

British Dictionary definitions for kick upstairs (2 of 3)

kick

verb

noun

Word Origin for kick

British Dictionary definitions for kick upstairs (3 of 3)

upstairs

adverb

noun (functioning as singular or plural)

Word Origin and History for kick upstairs (1 of 3)

kick

Word Origin and History for kick upstairs (1 of 3)

upstairs

Word Origin and History for kick upstairs (2 of 3)

kick

Idioms and Phrases with kick upstairs (1 of 3)

kick upstairs

Idioms and Phrases with kick upstairs (2 of 3)

kick

Idioms and Phrases with kick upstairs (3 of 3)

upstairs

verb (used with object)

Definition for kick upstairs (2 of 2)