# kick back

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/kick-back
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

to stop working and relax, often by sitting or lying down. You use this when you want to take it easy after a busy day.

For teachers: to relax or rest, typically after a period of exertion or stress. The verb is intransitive and carries an informal register.

## Examples

- I like to kick back and watch a movie on Friday nights.
- After finishing the big project, the whole team decided to kick back at a local bar for a few hours.
- While the rest of the staff scrambled to meet the deadline, the manager seemed content to kick back in his office with a coffee.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I need to kick back myself." but "I need to kick back." — kick back is an intransitive phrasal verb and does not require a reflexive pronoun.

## Usage notes

- This phrase is intransitive and does not take an object.
- Teaching tip: Use the physical image of 'kicking your feet back' to help students remember the meaning of relaxing.

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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.