English Reference

Phrasal verb

kick out

Definition

phrasal verb. to force someone to leave a place or a group because they are no longer welcome or have broken the rules.

phrasal verb. to expel or forcibly remove a person from a location, organization, or social group. Transitive and often used in informal contexts to describe involuntary departure.

Examples

“The landlord will kick us out if we make too much noise.”

“After he was caught cheating during the final exam, the school decided to kick him out immediately.”

“The board of directors eventually decided to kick out the CEO following a series of controversial decisions that damaged the company's reputation.”

Examples

simple

“The landlord will kick us out if we make too much noise.”

contextual

“After he was caught cheating during the final exam, the school decided to kick him out immediately.”

complex

“The board of directors eventually decided to kick out the CEO following a series of controversial decisions that damaged the company's reputation.”

Usage

The object can be placed between 'kick' and 'out' or after 'out', but pronouns must go in the middle.

Teaching tip

Compare with 'expel' for schools or 'evict' for housing to show how 'kick out' serves as the versatile, informal alternative.

Pitfall

The manager kicked out him.

The manager kicked him out.

If the object is a pronoun like 'him' or 'them', it must be placed between the verb and the particle.

Phrasal verb

Particles

out

Separability

optional

Pattern

kick + (object) + out

Synonyms

expelevictthrow outremove

Antonyms

admitlet inwelcome

Grammar

Phrasal verbs (introduction)

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
Level
B1 · Intermediate
Updated

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