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[kik] /kɪk/

verb (used with object)
1.
to strike with the foot or feet:
to kick the ball; to kick someone in the shins.
2.
to drive, force, make, etc., by or as if by kicks.
3.
Football. to score (a field goal or a conversion) by place-kicking or drop-kicking the ball.
4.
Informal. to make (a car) increase in speed, especially in auto racing:
He kicked his car into high gear.
5.
to strike in recoiling:
The gun kicked his shoulder.
6.
Slang. to give up or break (a drug addiction):
Has he kicked the habit?
7.
Poker. (def 24).
8.
Chiefly South Atlantic States. to reject as a suitor; jilt:
He courted her for two years—then she kicked him.
verb (used without object)
9.
to make a rapid, forceful thrust with the foot or feet:
He kicked at the ball. You have to kick rapidly when using a crawl stroke.
10.
to have a tendency to strike with the foot or feet:
That horse kicks when you walk into his stall.
11.
Informal. to resist, object, or complain:
What’s he got to kick about?
12.
to recoil, as a firearm when fired.
13.
to be actively or vigorously involved:
He’s still alive and kicking.
14.
kick upstairs, (def 8).
noun
15.
the act of kicking; a blow or thrust with the foot or feet.
16.
power or disposition to kick:
That horse has a mean kick.
17.
Informal. an objection or complaint.
18.
Informal.

19.
Informal.

20.
Football.

21.
a recoil, as of a gun.
22.
Slang. a pocket:
He kept his wallet in his side kick.
23.
kicks, Slang. (def 1).
24.
Glassmaking.

Verb phrases
25.
kick about, to move from place to place frequently:
He kicked about a good deal before settling down.
26.
kick around, Informal.

27.
kick back,

28.
kick in,

29.
kick off,

30.
kick on, to switch on; turn on:
He kicked on the motor and we began to move.
31.
kick out, Informal.

32.
kick over, Informal. (of an internal-combustion engine) to begin ignition; turn over:
The engine kicked over a few times but we couldn’t get it started.
33.
kick up,

Idioms
34.
kick ass, Slang: Vulgar.

Also, Slang, kick butt.
35.
kick in the ass, Slang: Vulgar. (def 36a).
36.
kick in the pants, Informal.

37.
kick in the teeth, an abrupt, often humiliating setback; rebuff:
Her refusal even to talk to me was a kick in the teeth.
38.
kick over the traces. 2 (def 3).
39.
kick the bucket, Slang. (def 15).
40.
kick the tin, Australian. to give a donation; contribute.
[uhp-stairz] /ˈʌpˈstɛərz/
adverb
1.
up the stairs; to or on an upper floor.
2.
Informal. in the mind:
to be a little weak upstairs.
3.
to or at a higher level of authority:
You may have to take the matter upstairs.
4.
Military Slang. at or to a higher level in the air.
adjective
5.
Also, upstair. of, relating to, or situated on an upper floor:
an upstairs window; an upstairs apartment.
noun, plural upstairs.
6.
(usually used with a singular verb) an upper story or stories; the part of a building or house that is above the ground floor:
The upstairs of this house is entirely rented.
7.
a higher command or level of authority:
We can’t take action till we have approval from upstairs.
Idioms
8.
kick upstairs, to promote (a person) to a higher position, usually having less authority, in order to be rid of him or her.
/ˈʌpˈstɛəz/
adverb
1.
up the stairs; to or on an upper floor or level
2.
(informal) to or into a higher rank or office
3.
(informal) in the mind: a little weak upstairs
4.
(informal) kick upstairs, to promote to a higher rank or position, esp one that carries less power
noun (functioning as singular or pl)
5.

6.
(Brit, informal, old-fashioned) the masters and mistresses of a household collectively, esp of a large house Compare downstairs (sense 3)
/kɪk/
verb
1.
(transitive) to drive or impel with the foot
2.
(transitive) to hit with the foot or feet
3.
(intransitive) to strike out or thrash about with the feet, as in fighting or swimming
4.
(intransitive) to raise a leg high, as in dancing
5.
(of a gun, etc) to recoil or strike in recoiling when fired
6.
(transitive) (rugby)

7.
(transitive) (soccer) to score (a goal) by a kick
8.
(intransitive) (athletics) to put on a sudden spurt
9.
(intransitive) to make a sudden violent movement
10.
(intransitive) (cricket) (of a ball) to rear up sharply
11.
(informal) (intransitive) sometimes foll by against. to object or resist
12.
(intransitive) (informal) to be active and in good health (esp in the phrase alive and kicking)
13.
(informal) to change gear in (a car, esp a racing car): he kicked into third and passed the bigger car
14.
(transitive) (informal) to free oneself of (an addiction, etc): to kick heroin, to kick the habit
15.
kick against the pricks, See prick (sense 20)
16.
kick into touch

17.
kick one’s heels, to wait or be kept waiting
18.
kick over the traces, See trace2 (sense 3)
19.
(slang) kick the bucket, to die
20.
(informal) kick up one’s heels, to enjoy oneself without inhibition
noun
21.
a thrust or blow with the foot
22.
any of certain rhythmic leg movements used in swimming
23.
the recoil of a gun or other firearm
24.
(informal) a stimulating or exciting quality or effect (esp in the phrases get a kick out of or for kicks)
25.
(athletics) a sudden spurt, acceleration, or boost
26.
a sudden violent movement
27.
(informal) the sudden stimulating or intoxicating effect of strong alcoholic drink or certain drugs
28.
(informal) power or force
29.
(slang) a temporary enthusiasm: he’s on a new kick every week
30.
(slang) kick in the pants

31.
(slang) kick in the teeth, a humiliating rebuff
v.

late 14c., “to strike out with the foot” (earliest in biblical phrase now usually rendered as kick against the pricks), of uncertain origin, perhaps from Old Norse kikna “bend backwards, sink at the knees.” “The doubts OED has about the Scandinavian origin of kick are probably unfounded” [Liberman]. Related: Kicked; kicking.

Figurative sense of “complain, protest, rebel against” (late 14c.) probably is from the Bible verse. Slang sense of “die” is attested from 1725 (kick the wind was slang for “be hanged,” 1590s; see also bucket). Meaning “to end one’s drug habit” is from 1936. Kick in “contribute” is from 1908; kick out “expel” is from 1690s. To kick oneself in self-reproach is from 1891. The children’s game of kick the can is attested from 1891.
n.

1520s, from kick (v.). Meaning “recoil (of a gun) when fired” is from 1826. Meaning “surge or fit of pleasure” (often as kicks) is from 1941; originally literally, “stimulation from liquor or drugs” (1844). The kick “the fashion” is c.1700.

1590s (adj.), from up + stairs (see stair). The noun is first attested 1872. Meaning “characteristic of upstairs life” (in private rooms of a household, as opposed to servants’ quarters) is recorded from 1942.

He [Halifax] had said he had known many kicked down stairs, but he never knew any kicked up stairs before. [Gilbert Burnet, supplement to “History of My own Time,” from his original memoirs, c.1697]

noun

The North, esp with respect to its racism (1970s+ Black)

noun

verb

Related Terms

get a kick out of someone or something, on a roll, sidekick

[pocket sense fr late 17thcentury kicks, ”breeches”]