kick
The word kick is used as a verb or as a noun when a person uses his or her foot to propel an object forward.
kick / kicked / kicked / kicked
The “ed” ending in “kicked” sounds like a “t.”
He’s just about to kick the ball.
a. Kicking is an actual, physical action.
The word “kick” can be used as a verb….
- He kicked the ball down the field.
- The person sitting behind me kept kicking my chair.
- Stop kicking me!
- Please, don’t kick that.
- Someone tried to kick in our door. (to kick in = break down)
- A big guy on the beach was kicking sand on people, daring them to stop him.
- You have to careful around horses because they can kick you if they feel threatened.
…or as a noun:
- That was a good kick.
- You have to give it a kick to start it.
- Give it a kick.
- Darryl kicks when he fights.
- He’s a kickboxer.
- Kickboxers kick their opponents during a match.
- She’s kicking the sand on the beach.
b.. Kicking is also used figuratively (not literally).
There are two main figurative uses for “kick.” 1. kick (verb) = quit something; 2. kick (noun) = a sense of enjoyment, pleasure.
kick (verb) = to quit something
- She finally kicked smoking.
- Smoking is a hard habit to kick.
- Have you ever tried to kick a bad habit?
- Countries around the world will have to kick their dependence on fossil fuels for energy.
- Driving everywhere in a car in the United States is a hard habit for some people to kick because the infrastructure gives preference to automobiles over pedestrians or bicyclists.
kick (noun) = a sense of enjoyment, pleasure
- I got a big kick out of what she she said.
- What do you do for kicks? (kicks = fun)
- Is that what you do for kicks? (This can sound very critical of a person’s behavior or activity.)
- Marlin isn’t serious. He just does that for kicks.
- I get no kick from champagne. I get a kick out of you. (Frank Sinatra)
- She’s trying to kick an addiction to prescription drugs.
- Jeremy gets a kick out of hanging out at coffee shops.
- She gets her kicks out of hacking into computer networks. (get one’s kicks = personal enjoyment from dangerous or illegal activity.)
c. popular expressions that use "kick"
Here is an assortment of popular expressions that include the word “kick.”
- He kicked the bucket. (He died.)
- When I’m at home, I can kick back and relax. (kick back = be at peace; relax)
- You shouldn’t kick someone when they’re down. (kick a person = make that person feel worse after a bad situation occurs)
- Mr. Lawrence kicked Shane out of class because he was causing trouble. (kick out = order to leave)
- The meeting kicks off at 9:00. (kick off = begin an event)
- Kick off your shoes and stay awhile. (make yourself feel comfortable)
- Do you want to kick in for a pizza? (kick in = make a contribution as part of a group)
- Everyone was asked to kick in some money to help the family pay for the funeral. (kick in = contribute)
- You’ll be able to feel the medication kick in in about half an hour. (kick in = medication or drugs are felt in one’s body.)
- Is that a new pair of kicks? (kicks = slang for shoes)
- We kicked in for a pizza.
- Each person kicked in a few bucks.
- Valerie has a new pair of kicks. (kicks = shoes)