kick up
phrasal verb.phrasal verb. to cause a problem or argument; to raise something, like dust or a row.
phrasal verb. to initiate a disturbance or to elevate something physically; commonly used in contexts involving conflict (e.g. 'kick up a row') or physical movement (e.g. 'kick up dust').
He kicked up a row over the noise.
The employee kicked up a fuss when the manager didn't give a raise.
The politician's controversial statement kicked up a storm of media attention.
often followed by a noun indicating the thing being raised or the problem caused.
contrast with 'start a row' (more general) and 'raise a problem' (more formal); 'kick up' is vivid and informal, often implying suddenness.
He kicked a row.He kicked up a row.the particle 'up' is required to form the phrasal verb; 'kick a row' would mean something different (e.g. kicking an object named 'a row').
Last updated April 24, 2026