kick-up

Or kick·up

[kik-uhp]

noun

1. a violent disturbance or argument.

2. kick.

3. kip.

kick up

verb

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

2. See bobsy-die

Word History and Origins

Origin of kick up¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

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.

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.

Read more on BBC

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

Read more on Reuters

My knob-toed, orange-colored “kick-up” shoes were nothing but Florsheims, the ghetto’s Cadillac of shoes in those days.

Read more on Literature

“All you do is a little kick-up on advertising to keep the awareness there,” he says.

Read more on BusinessWeek

To combat dust kick-up, the cart boys apply a greasy coat of Armor All to the tires, interior, and even the steering wheel.

Read more on Golf Digest

Related Words

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