kick
I
 /ˈkık/  verb  , kicks, kicked, kick·ing
  1 a [  + obj  ] : to hit (someone or something) with your foot
   The attacker kicked him in the stomach.
   She lost her temper and kicked over the box.
   He kicked the ball into the goal.
   She kicked the ball to me.
   The policeman kicked the door open.
  1 b : to move your leg or legs in the air or in water especially in a strong or forceful way
   [  + obj  ] The baby kicked his legs in the air.
    The swimming instructor reminded the children to kick their legs as they swam.
   [  no obj  ] The baby kicked with pleasure.
    The boy kicked and screamed as his mother carried him out of the room. = The boy was carried out of the room kicking and screaming.
    — often used figuratively
    They told him he needed a computer, but he had to be dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century. [=he had to be forced to stop doing things the old way and use a computer]
   
  2 [  + obj  ] sports : to score (a goal) by kicking a ball
   He kicked the winning field goal.
  3 [  + obj  ] informal : to completely stop doing (something harmful to yourself) : to put an end to (a bad or dangerous habit)
   When he was 25, he kicked his cocaine habit and went back to school.
   I've been smoking for years, but this year I'm determined to kick the habit.
  4 [  no obj  ] informal : to be full of life and energy
  — always used as (be) kicking
   He's almost 90 years old, but he's still kicking.
   The movement is still alive and kicking.
  kick around [  phrasal verb  ]
     informal  
   1 kick around (a place) or kick around : to spend time in (a place) without having a goal or purpose : to wander around (a place)
    After graduation, he kicked around Boston for a while, trying to decide what to do next. = After graduation, he kicked around for a while, trying to decide what to do next.
   2 : to be lying somewhere within a general area or place
    I think I have a copy of that book kicking around [=lying around] somewhere in my house.
   3 a : to be considered or discussed in an informal way over a period of time
    These ideas have been kicking around for years.
   3 b kick around (something) or kick (something) around : to consider or talk about (ideas, plans, etc.) in an informal way
    We should have a meeting to kick around some ideas about possible new products.
   4 kick (someone) around or kick around (someone) : to treat (someone) in a very bad or unfair way
    He gets kicked around by his older brother.
  kick ass
    US    informal + impolite  
   1 : to succeed or win in a very impressive way
    a lawyer who kicks ass in the courtroom
    Our team kicked ass in the soccer tournament.
   2 : to use force to achieve some purpose
    If they don't start answering my questions, I'm going to go over there and kick some ass.
   3 kick someone's ass
   3 a : to attack and injure someone severely
    Some drunk threatened to kick his ass.
    He got his ass kicked by some drunk.
   3 b : to defeat someone easily or completely
    We got our asses kicked [=we lost badly] in the last game.
    — see also kick-ass
  kick back [  phrasal verb  ]
     chiefly US    informal   : to relax and enjoy yourself
    After work, he likes to kick back and watch some TV.
    I spent the weekend just kicking back.
  kick butt
    US    informal + sometimes impolite  
    — used in the same ways as kick ass (above)
    Our team kicked butt in the soccer tournament.
    I'm going to go over there and kick some butt.
    Some drunk threatened to kick his butt.
   
  kick in [  phrasal verb  ]
     informal  
   1 : to begin to work or to have an effect
    Once the heat kicks in, it will be a lot more comfortable in here.
    waiting for the new law to kick in
   2 kick in (something) or kick (something) in US : to give (an amount of money) as your share : contribute
    We each kicked in a few dollars for her gift.
  kick off [  phrasal verb  ]
   1 : to start play in a game (such as American football or soccer) by kicking the ball
    Jones will kick off from the 30-yard line.
    — see also kickoff
   2 a kick off (something) or kick (something) off : to begin (something, such as a performance, an event, or a discussion)
    The chairman's speech will kick off the conference.
   2 b : to get started : begin
    The conference kicked off with a speech by the chairman.
    The game kicks off at 1:00.
   3 kick (someone) off (something) : to force (someone) to leave (a team or group)
    The coach threatened to kick him off the team if he continued to be late for practice.
   4 kick off (your shoes) or kick (your shoes) off : to remove (your shoes) by making a kicking motion
    She kicked off her shoes and started to dance.
   5 informal : to die
    I was so sick that I felt like I might kick off at any time.
  kick out [  phrasal verb  ]
   kick (someone) out or kick out (someone) : to force (someone) to leave a place, group, school, etc.
    He was/got kicked out [=thrown out] of the school when he was caught cheating again.
    They threatened to kick him out (of the bar) if he didn't stop annoying people.
    She kicked her husband out (of the house).
  kick (someone) upstairs
    informal   : to promote (someone) to a higher but less powerful or important position
    He was kicked upstairs, given a fancy title, and stripped of most of his power.
  kick the bucket
    informal + somewhat old-fashioned   : to die
    He inherited the house after his uncle kicked the bucket.
  kick up [  phrasal verb  ]
   1 kick up (something) or kick (something) up : to cause (something) to rise upward
    The car sped away, kicking up dirt and gravel.
   2 informal
   2 a kick up (something) or kick (something) up : to cause (something) to become stronger
    The praise kicked up her confidence.
    The intensity of the game got kicked up a notch when a fight broke out.
   2 b : to become stronger
    The wind suddenly kicked up.
   3 kick up (something) or kick (something) up informal : to cause (something) to happen
    The high winds kicked up huge waves.
    The service in the restaurant wasn't very good, but we decided not to kick up a fuss/stink [=complain] about it.
  kick up your heels
    US    informal   : to relax and enjoy yourself : to have a good and lively time
    After exams were over, the students had a little time to kick up their heels.
  kick yourself
    informal   : to blame or criticize yourself for something you have done
    You've got to stop kicking yourself. It wasn't your fault that the project failed.
    He was kicking himself for having forgotten the meeting.
    He could have kicked himself [=he was very angry at himself] when he realized that he had forgotten the meeting.
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II
  noun  ,  pl   kicks [  count  ]
  1 a : an act of hitting someone or something with your foot
   He gave me a kick in the leg.
   If you give the machine a little kick, it should start working again.
  : a sudden forceful movement with your foot
   a karate kick
  1 b : an act of hitting a ball with your foot
   a soccer kick
   a long kick in football
  — see also corner kick, dropkick, free kick, penalty kick, placekick
  2 a : a sudden forceful movement
  — usually singular
   I felt the kick of the engine when it started.
   The rifle has a powerful kick.
  2 b informal : a quality that produces a sudden powerful effect
  — usually singular
   The drink has a kick [=a strong effect from alcohol] to it.
   chili with a kick [=a very hot and spicy flavor]
  3 informal : a feeling or source of pleasure
   She gets a kick out of watching old movies. [=she enjoys watching old movies]
   I got a kick out of seeing her again. = Seeing her again was a kick.
   We play for kicks [=for enjoyment], not for money.
   He gets his kicks from embarrassing his teammates. [=he enjoys embarrassing his teammates]
  4 informal
  — used with on to say that someone is doing a lot of something for usually a brief period of time
   He's been on a health-food kick lately. [=he has been eating a lot of health food lately]
  5 : an increase in speed at the end of the race
   a runner who has a strong finishing kick
  a kick in the teeth
    informal   : something that is very shocking and disappointing
    Losing that game was a real kick in the teeth.