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REFERENCE

kick

v. · n.
US //ˈkɪk// UK //kˈɪk// kick
  1. 1 to hit with the foot (v.)
    A2 Elementary

    to hit something or someone with your foot.

    to strike or propel an object or person using the foot or leg.

    Example

    The boy liked to kick the ball against the wall for hours.

    Example

    The striker managed to kick the ball into the top corner of the net just seconds before the final whistle blew.
  2. 2 to stop a habit (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    to stop doing something that is bad for you, like a habit.

    to overcome or free oneself from a persistent habit or addiction.

    Example

    He finally managed to kick his habit of drinking too much coffee.

    Example

    Medical professionals often suggest that patients join support groups when they are trying to kick a long-term smoking addiction.
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  1. 3 to remove from a group (v.)
    B1 Intermediate Informal Computing

    to force someone to leave a group, a game, or an online chat.

    to summarily eject a participant from a group or an online activity.

    Example

    The moderator had to kick the user for being rude to others.

    Example

    The server administrator decided to kick several players who were consistently violating the community guidelines regarding fair play.
  2. 4 a strike with the foot (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    an act of hitting something with your foot.

    a blow or forceful strike delivered with the foot or leg.

    Example

    He gave the door a hard kick when it wouldn't open.

    Example

    The horse delivered a powerful kick to the stable door, startling the nearby farmhands.
  3. 5 a thrill or fun (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Informal

    a feeling of excitement, energy, or pleasure.

    a surge of pleasurable excitement or a temporary thrill.

    Example

    She gets a real kick out of seeing her students succeed.

    Example

    Many adrenaline junkies get a kick out of skydiving, despite the obvious risks involved in the sport.
  4. 6 spicy flavour (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal Cooking

    a strong, spicy, or sharp taste in food or drink.

    a pungent or spicy quality that provides a sharp stimulus to the palate.

    Example

    The ginger gives this fresh juice a nice little kick.

    Example

    The chef added a pinch of cayenne pepper to the sauce to give it an extra kick without overpowering the delicate flavours of the seafood.
    • blandness
  5. 7 recoil (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical

    the sudden backward movement of a gun when it is fired.

    the reactive backward spring or recoil of a firearm upon discharge.

    Example

    The rifle had a powerful kick that surprised the new shooter.

    Example

    Experienced marksmen learn to compensate for the kick of a high-calibre weapon to maintain accuracy during rapid fire.
  6. 8 shoes (n.)
    C1 Advanced Slang

    a pair of shoes, especially sneakers.

    a slang term for footwear, typically referring to fashionable or athletic sneakers.

    Example

    He just bought a brand new pair of kicks for the basketball season.

    Example

    The collector spent thousands of dollars on limited-edition kicks that he intended to keep in pristine condition.
Etymology 1

From Middle English kyken (“to strike out with the foot”), from Old Norse kikna (“to sink at the knees”) and keikja (“to bend backwards”) (compare Old Norse keikr (“bent backwards, the belly jutting forward”)), from Proto-Germanic kaikaz (“bent backwards”), of uncertain origin. Perhaps from Proto-Germanic kī-, kij- (“to split, dodge, swerve sidewards”), from Proto-Indo-European ǵeyH- (“to sprout, shoot”). Compare also Dutch kijken (“to look”), Middle Low German kīken (“to look, watch”). See keek.

Etymology 2

Shortening of kick the bucket.

Etymology 3

Shortening of kick ass

Idioms35 entries

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