kick

I UK [kɪk] / US verb
Word forms "kick":
present tense I/you/we/they kick he/she/it kicks present participle kicking past tense kicked past participle kicked
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1)

a) [intransitive/transitive] to hit someone or something with your foot

Mum! Jimmy kicked me!

Some children will bite and kick when they get angry.

kick something to/towards/away from someone/something:

He kicked the bottle towards the bin and missed.

kick something open/closed/shut:

Southgate kicked the door open.

kick someone in the stomach/face/head etc:

She felt as if she had been kicked in the stomach.

b) to hit a ball with your foot in a game such as football

the pleasure of kicking a ball across a stretch of grass

2) [intransitive/transitive] to move your legs as if you were kicking something

Take your baby's nappy off and let her kick a bit.

3) [transitive] informal to stop doing something that is bad for you

Amanda has finally managed to kick smoking.

kick the habit:

Do you smoke and want to kick the habit?

4) [transitive] to hit a horse's sides with your heels in order to make it move forward

Flora kicked her horse into a canter.

•

kick (someone's) ass — mainly American

impolite to punish or defeat someone

If he gives you any problems, let me know and I'll kick his ass.

kick (some) ass/butt — mainly American

impolite to show someone what you are capable of doing or achieving, especially in a very determined way

Let's get out there and kick some ass!

- be kicked upstairs

- kick the bucket

- kick something into the long grass

- kick someone in the teeth

- kick something into touch

- kick the shit out of someone

- kick someone when they are down

- kick your heels

- kick yourself

Phrasal verbs:

- kick against

- kick around

- kick back

- kick in

- kick off

- kick out

- kick over

- kick up

See:

alive, drag I

II UK [kɪk] / US noun
Word forms "kick":
singular kick plural kicks
**

1) [countable] a hit with your foot

Lifting her foot, she aimed a kick at George.

give someone/something a kick:

Bobby gave the door a good kick.

take a kick at someone:

One man took a flying kick at a police officer.

a kick in the face/jaw/teeth etc:

Fowler received a kick in the face that broke his jaw.

a) an act of kicking a ball in a game

Barnes had missed three easy kicks at goal.

b) a sudden movement of your leg forward and upwards, especially in a dance

the high kicks of the cancan

2) [singular] informal a feeling of excitement or pleasure

To become involved with professional football is a real kick for me.

get a kick out of/from something:

I get a real kick out of seeing my children do well in school.

do something for kicks:

I just play the banjo for kicks – I'm not very good at it.

•

a kick in the teeth/stomach/guts — informal something that makes you feel very disappointed or upset, especially when you have been trying hard to achieve something

He described the court's decision as a kick in the teeth to the people of Britain.

- get your kicks from something

- a kick up the backside