kick the tires
To inspect something to ensure it meets expected standards or has favored characteristics, typically before committing to purchasing or otherwise selecting it.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“We should kick the tires on this car before we buy it.”
“I always kick the tires on a new phone before I decide to keep it.”
“Before we sign the contract for the new software, we need to kick the tires to make sure it works for our team.”
“The manager wants us to kick the tires on the new project plan to find any potential problems before we present it to the board.”
“You should visit the campus and kick the tires on the university's facilities before you apply for a degree there.”
“The investors insisted on a thorough due diligence process to kick the tires of the startup before committing any significant capital to the venture.”
Early 20th century. Early automobile tyres were frequently constructed of thin rubber of unreliable quality, a circumstance that invited the prospective buyer to kick them. The gesture allowed for a tactile assessment of the rubber's thickness and an immediate, if rudimentary, test of whether the tyre was likely to deflate.
- 01
dog who caught the tire
One who accomplishes a seemingly impossible feat, but does not know what to do next.
- 02
get a kick out of
To be delighted by; to be amused by.
- 03
get one's kicks
To enjoy oneself, to have a good time.
- 04
kick a dog when it's down
To make things worse for someone in an adverse situation.
- 05
kick ass
To win decisively.
- 06
kick ass and take names
To beat someone in a competition, fight, or other situation.
- 07
kick at an open door
To carry out a redundant activity.
- 08
kick at the can
An attempt or an opportunity.
Last updated August 10, 2026