English Reference
Idiom idiom

kicks and giggles


Amusement without any serious purpose; fun.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

“We just went for a walk for kicks and giggles.”

CONTEXTUAL

“They started the silly project just for kicks and giggles, but it actually became quite popular.”

COMPLEX

“While he initially joined the local theater troupe merely for kicks and giggles, he soon discovered a profound and unexpected passion for the craft.”


first recorded 20th c.

First attested c. 1963, the phrase is a modern rhyming reduplication. It functions as a variant of the earlier "for kicks," pairing the existing colloquialism for excitement with a term for amusement to achieve a phonetic symmetry.


Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    get a kick out of

    To be delighted by; to be amused by.

  2. 02

    get one's kicks

    To enjoy oneself, to have a good time.

  3. 03

    kick a dog when it's down

    To make things worse for someone in an adverse situation.

  4. 04

    kick ass

    To win decisively.

  5. 05

    kick ass and take names

    To beat someone in a competition, fight, or other situation.

  6. 06

    kick at an open door

    To carry out a redundant activity.

  7. 07

    kick at the can

    An attempt or an opportunity.

  8. 08

    kick back

    To relax; to laze.

Last updated August 10, 2026