Phrasal verb
kick around with
Definition
phrasal verb. to spend time with someone in a casual, playful way; to joke or tease someone lightly.
phrasal verb. to engage in informal, lighthearted interaction with someone; can also imply roughhousing or playful physical contact.
Examples
“They kicked around with friends all afternoon.”
“After the meeting, the team kicked around with their manager in the break room.”
“The children kicked around with the ball in the park, their laughter echoing through the trees.”
Examples
simple
“They kicked around with friends all afternoon.”
contextual
“After the meeting, the team kicked around with their manager in the break room.”
complex
“The children kicked around with the ball in the park, their laughter echoing through the trees.”
Usage
followed by a person or thing; informal and often implies playful or casual interaction.
Teaching tip
contrast with 'mess around with' (more chaotic) and 'hang out with' (more neutral); 'kick around with' carries a slight physical or verbal playfulness.
Pitfall
They kicked with around the park.
They kicked around with friends at the park.
the particle 'around' must precede 'with'; the phrase is fixed and inseparable.
Phrasal verb
Particles
around with
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
kick + around + with + object