# kick around with

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/kick-around-with
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to spend time with someone in a casual, playful way; to joke or tease someone lightly.

For teachers: 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.

## Pitfalls

- Not "They kicked with around the park." but "They kicked around with friends at the park." — the particle 'around' must precede 'with'; the phrase is fixed and inseparable.

## Usage notes

- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.