to kick
8
7.7
- verb
- /kɪk/
- Informal
- Weariness, skepticism, and distrust have instead kicked in, forcing many people to look for alternatives.
Examples
-
Whenever they have problems, they kick about it until someone listens.
-
He always kicks when he's unhappy with the service at restaurants.
-
Uh, the rest of you, kick up a row.
-
We've had lots of fun at the dinner table kicking around ideas.
Fiction book (1992) -
But just like, don't kick us, you know, away and forget about us or like mistreat us.
-
Now here's the thing, they do charge you a fee for this, which is like kicking someone when they're down.
-
She said stand up straight if you have nothing nice to say, don't say nothing at all and never kick them while they're down.
-
After the meeting, she kicked about the lack of communication from management.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
To say you are unhappy about something and want it changed
17
7.0
To say your opinion or complain loudly and openly
13
6.0
To complain loudly in a way that annoys other people
6
9.9
To complain often about small things
3
6.4
Complain loudly about something small
1
7.9
To keep saying you are unhappy about something
1
8.7
To suddenly become very angry or upset and act childishly
To complain about small, unimportant things
Idioms
- Informal
6
7.4
A very bad disappointment that makes you feel hurt and unfairly treated
- Offensive
2
9.9
To do very well and act confidently, often in a forceful way
- Informal
1
6.9
To treat someone badly when they already have problems
- Archaic
1
9.9
To resist authority in a way that is useless and makes things worse
Phrasal Verbs
- Slang
To have a sudden strong want to buy things you do not need when you see new items or sales
Compounds
- Specialized
6
2.3
A kick given to a team after the other team breaks a rule, taken without nearby opponents
3
2.4
A kick in football taken from the corner after a defender last touched the ball for the attacking team
- Specialized
2
4.7
A lever on a motorcycle that you press with your foot to start the engine
1
3.6
A kick by the defending team from the goal area to restart play after the ball crosses the goal line
- Specialized
1
4.3
A swimming leg movement that opens and closes the legs to move the body forward in sidestroke
- Specialized
1
7.9
A short fold at the back of a straight skirt or coat that lets you walk easily
- Specialized
1
4.0
A swimming move used underwater in which both legs move up and down together in a smooth wave
- Specialized
1
3.4
A fast up-and-down kick with straight legs used in freestyle and backstroke
- Specialized
1
3.3
A metal or plastic strip fixed to the bottom of a door to protect it from scuff marks
- Specialized
1
3.8
A kick in sports like football where the ball is placed on the ground to score or restart play
- Specialized
1
3.5
A swimming movement where you pull your knees up, straighten your legs, and push them together like a frog
- Offensive
A chaotic rushed situation that happens because of poor planning
- Specialized
A removable panel at the bottom of an appliance or door that protects it and gives access to parts inside
How Strong
- Formal
142
6.8
383
3.2
- Informal
8
7.7
∞
1.0
46
3.7
Surface Forms
Etymology
Kick as a verb meaning to complain comes from the same 'kicking against' idea, where someone shows their unhappiness by pushing back. That is why to kick about something is to complain or grumble.