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kick
(redirected from kicking against)

   Also found in: Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.01 sec.
kick  (kk)
v. kicked, kick·ing, kicks
v.intr.
1. To strike out with the foot or feet.
2. Sports
a. To score or gain ground by kicking a ball.
b. To punt in football.
c. To propel the body in swimming by moving the legs, as with a flutter kick or frog kick.
3. To recoil: The powerful rifle kicked upon being fired.
4. Informal
a. To express negative feelings vigorously; complain.
b. To oppose by argument; protest.
v.tr.
1. To strike with the foot.
2. To propel by striking with the foot.
3. To spring back against suddenly: The rifle kicked my shoulder when I fired it.
4. Sports To score (a goal or point) by kicking a ball.
n.
1.
a. A vigorous blow with the foot.
b. Sports The motion of the legs that propels the body in swimming.
2. A jolting recoil: a rifle with a heavy kick.
3. Slang A complaint; a protest.
4. Slang Power; force: a car engine with a lot of kick.
5. Slang
a. A feeling of pleasurable stimulation: got a kick out of the show.
b. kicks Fun: went bowling just for kicks.
6. Slang Temporary, often obsessive interest: I'm on a science fiction kick.
7. Slang A sudden, striking surprise; a twist.
8. Sports
a. The act or an instance of kicking a ball.
b. A kicked ball.
c. The distance spanned by a kicked ball.
Phrasal Verbs:
kick about
To move from place to place.
kick around Informal
1. To treat badly; abuse.
2. To move from place to place: "spent the next three years in Italy, kicking around the country on a motor scooter" Charles E. Claffey.
3. To give thought or consideration to; ponder or discuss.
kick back
1. To recoil unexpectedly and violently.
2. Informal To take it easy; relax: kicked back at home and watched TV.
3. Slang To return (stolen items).
4. Slang To pay a kickback.
kick in
1. Informal To contribute (one's share): kicked in a few dollars for the office party.
2. Informal To become operative or take effect: "His pituitary kicked in, and his growth was suddenly vertical" Kenneth Browser.
3. Slang To die.
kick off
1. Sports To begin or resume play with a kickoff.
2. Informal To begin; start: kicked off the promotional tour with a press conference.
3. Slang To die.
kick out Slang
To throw out; dismiss.
kick over
To begin to fire: The engine finally kicked over.
kick up Informal
1. To increase in amount or force; intensify: A sandstorm kicked up while we drove through the desert.
2. To stir up (trouble): kicked up a row.
3. To show signs of disorder: His ulcer has kicked up again.
Idioms:
kick ass/butt Vulgar Slang
To take forceful or harsh measures to achieve an objective.
kick the bucket Slang
To die.
kick the habit Slang
To free oneself of an addiction, as to narcotics or cigarettes.
kick up (one's) heels Informal
To cast off one's inhibitions and have a good time.
kick upstairs Slang
To promote to a higher yet less desirable position.

[Middle English kiken, perhaps of Scandinavian origin.]

kick
Verb
1. to drive, push, or hit with the foot or feet
2. to strike out with the feet, as in swimming
3. to raise a leg high, as in dancing
4. Rugby to score (a conversion, drop kick, or penalty) with a kick: he kicked his third penalty
5. (of a firearm) to recoil when fired
6. Informal to object or resist: school uniforms give children something to kick against
7. Informal to free oneself of (an addiction): smokers who want to kick the habit
8. alive and kicking Informal active and in good health
9. kick someone upstairs to promote someone to a higher but effectively powerless position
Noun
1. a thrust or blow with the foot
2. any of certain rhythmic leg movements used in swimming
3. the recoil of a firearm
4. Informal an exciting effect: we get a kick out of attacking opposing fans and overturning their buses, a few small bets just for kicks
5. Informal the intoxicating effect of an alcoholic drink: a cocktail with a kick in it
6. kick in the teeth Slang a humiliating rebuff
See also kick about, kick off, etc. [Middle English kiken]
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.kickkick - the act of delivering a blow with the foot; "he gave the ball a powerful kick"; "the team's kicking was excellent"
goal-kick - (association football) a kick by the defending side after the attacking side sends the ball over the goal-line
goal-kick - (rugby) an attempt to kick a goal
punting, punt - (football) a kick in which the football is dropped from the hands and kicked before it touches the ground; "the punt traveled 50 yards"; "punting is an important part of the game"
place kick, place-kicking - (sports) a kick in which the ball is placed on the ground before kicking
dropkick - (football) kicking (as for a field goal) in which the football is dropped and kicked as it touches the ground
blow - a powerful stroke with the fist or a weapon; "a blow on the head"
2.kickkick - the swift release of a store of affective force; "they got a great bang out of it"; "what a boot!"; "he got a quick rush from injecting heroin"; "he does it for kicks"
excitement, exhilaration - the feeling of lively and cheerful joy; "he could hardly conceal his excitement when she agreed"
3.kick - the backward jerk of a gun when it is fired
motion, movement - a natural event that involves a change in the position or location of something
4.kick - informal terms for objecting; "I have a gripe about the service here"
objection - the speech act of objecting
5.kick - the sudden stimulation provided by strong drink (or certain drugs); "a sidecar is a smooth drink but it has a powerful kick"
stimulant, stimulus, stimulation, input - any stimulating information or event; acts to arouse action
6.kickkick - a rhythmic thrusting movement of the legs as in swimming or calisthenics; "the kick must be synchronized with the arm movements"; "the swimmer's kicking left a wake behind him"
movement, motility, motion, move - a change of position that does not entail a change of location; "the reflex motion of his eyebrows revealed his surprise"; "movement is a sign of life"; "an impatient move of his hand"; "gastrointestinal motility"
swimming kick - a movement of the legs in swimming
Verb1.kick - drive or propel with the foot
athletics, sport - an active diversion requiring physical exertion and competition
drop-kick, dropkick - drop and kick (a ball) as it touches the ground, as for a field goal
place-kick - kick (a ball) from a stationary position, in football
drop-kick, dropkick - make the point after a touchdown with a dropkick
punt - kick the ball
propel, impel - cause to move forward with force; "Steam propels this ship"
2.kick - thrash about or strike out with the feet
strike out - make a motion as with one's fist or foot towards an object or away from one's body
3.kick - strike with the foot; "The boy kicked the dog"; "Kick the door down"
scuff - poke at with the foot or toe
boot - kick; give a boot to
hit - deal a blow to, either with the hand or with an instrument; "He hit her hard in the face"
kick down, kick in - open violently; "kick in the doors"
kick down, kick in - open violently; "kick in the doors"
kick up - cause to rise by kicking; "kick up dust"
boot out, drum out, oust, expel, kick out, throw out - remove from a position or office; "The chairman was ousted after he misappropriated funds"
4.kick - kick a leg up
trip the light fantastic, trip the light fantastic toe, dance - move in a pattern; usually to musical accompaniment; do or perform a dance; "My husband and I like to dance at home to the radio"
5.kick - spring back, as from a forceful thrust; "The gun kicked back into my shoulder"
bounce, rebound, ricochet, take a hop, resile, spring, recoil, bound, reverberate - spring back; spring away from an impact; "The rubber ball bounced"; "These particles do not resile but they unite after they collide"
6.kick - stop consuming; "kick a habit"; "give up alcohol"
foreswear, forgo, waive, relinquish, dispense with, forego - do without or cease to hold or adhere to; "We are dispensing with formalities"; "relinquish the old ideas"
7.kick - make a goal; "He kicked the extra point after touchdown"
football, football game - any of various games played with a ball (round or oval) in which two teams try to kick or carry or propel the ball into each other's goal
rack up, score, tally, hit - gain points in a game; "The home team scored many times"; "He hit a home run"; "He hit .300 in the past season"
place-kick - score (a goal) by making a place kick
8.kick - express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness; "My mother complains all day"; "She has a lot to kick about"
hen-peck, nag, peck - bother persistently with trivial complaints; "She nags her husband all day long"
backbite, bitch - say mean things
grizzle, yammer, yawp, whine - complain whiningly
gnarl, grumble, murmur, mutter, croak - make complaining remarks or noises under one's breath; "she grumbles when she feels overworked"
grouch, grumble, scold - show one's unhappiness or critical attitude; "He scolded about anything that he thought was wrong"; "We grumbled about the increased work load"
protest - utter words of protest
repine - express discontent
beef, bellyache, bitch, gripe, grouse, squawk, holler, crab - complain; "What was he hollering about?"
inveigh, rail - complain bitterly
bemoan, bewail, deplore, lament - regret strongly; "I deplore this hostile action"; "we lamented the loss of benefits"
report - complain about; make a charge against; "I reported her to the supervisor"
bleat - talk whiningly

kick
verb 1. boot, strike, knock, punt, put the boot in(to) (slang)
verb 2. (Informal) give up, break, stop, abandon, quit, cease, eschew, leave off, desist from, end
noun 3. (Informal) thrill, glow, buzz (slang) tingle, high (slang) sensation
kick someone out (Informal) dismiss, remove, reject, get rid of, discharge, expel, oust, eject, evict, toss out, give the boot (slang) sack (informal) kiss off (slang), chiefly U.S., Canad. give (someone) their marching orders, give the push, give the bum's rush (slang) show you the door, throw you out on your ear (informal) kennet Austral. (slang) jeff Austral. (slang)
kick something off (Informal) begin, start, open, commence, launch, initiate, get under way, kick-start, get on the road
Translations
Spanish kick [kɪk] vt [+ person] → dar una patada a [+ ball]; dar un puntapié a
vi [horse] → dar coces
npatada; puntapié m; tiro; [of rifle] → culetazo;
(col) (= thrill): he does it for kicks → lo hace por pura diversión
kick around vt [+ idea] → dar vueltas a [+ person]; tratar a patadas a
kick off vi (SPORT) → hacer el saque inicial

French kick [kɪk] vtdonner un coup de pied à
vi [horse] → ruer
ncoup m de pied [of rifle]; recul m;
(inf) (= thrill);
he does it for kicks → il le fait parce que ça l'excite, il le fait pour le plaisir;
to kick the habit (inf) → arrêter
kick around vi (inf) → traîner
kick off vi (Sport) → donner le coup d'envoi

German kick [kɪk] vttreten;
(table, ball) → treten gegen +acc;
(inf) (habit) → ablegen;
(000) (addiction) → wegkommen von
vi (horse) → ausschlagen
nTritt m;
(to ball) → Schuss m;
(of rifle) → Rückstoß m;
(thrill);
he does it for kicks → er macht es zum Spaß
kick around kick (inf) vi (person) → rumhängen;
(thing) → rumliegen
kick off kick vi (Sport) → anstoßen

Italian kick [kɪk] vtcalciare, dare calci a
vi [horse] → tirar calci
ncalcio; [of rifle] → contraccolpo (= thrill): he does it for kicks → lo fa giusto per il piacere di farlo
kick around vi (col) → essere in giro
kick off vi (SPORT) → dare il primo calcio

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The variety includes a clutch of teens kicking against parental decisions, peer pressure problems, and romantic twinges.
By the third game of the season, he had been promoted to varsity and was kicking against Hart, one of Southern California's powerhouse teams.
Young Tim just wants a 10-speed bike but the effort he expends kicking against the pricks - brother, parents, teachers - is enough to drive insane even the healthiest among us.
 
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