# kicking

/ˈkɪkɪŋ/ (US) · /kˈɪkɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/kicking
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 2. a physical attack

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a violent attack where someone is hit many times with feet.

For teachers: a violent physical assault characterized by repeated strikes with the feet.

- The victim was lucky to escape without serious injury after the kicking.
- The witness described a brutal kicking in the alleyway, noting that the attackers fled as soon as they heard police sirens in the distance.

### 3. alive and active

adjective · CEFR B2 · Informal

full of life, energy, or health.

For teachers: functioning, healthy, or active; almost exclusively used in the fixed idiom 'alive and kicking'.

- Despite the rumours that the company was closing, it is still alive and kicking.
- The local arts scene is alive and kicking, with several new galleries opening despite the challenging economic climate of the past year.

### 4. exciting or fashionable

adjective · CEFR C1 · Slang

very exciting, lively, or stylish.

For teachers: denoting a state of high energy, excellence, or fashionable appeal.

- That party last night was absolutely kicking.
- The club was kicking by midnight, with a line of people stretching down the block hoping to get inside.

Usage: Usually functions as a predicative adjective after a linking verb like 'be'.

## Examples

- The team took a real kicking in the second half.
- After the argument turned violent, the victim was left with bruises following a nasty kicking in the alleyway.
- The local party suffered a political kicking at the polls, losing seats they had held securely for over three decades due to a sudden shift in public sentiment.

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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.