Skip to main content
to kick

to kick

500 7.7
Complain about something you do not like
  • verb
  • /kɪk/
  • Informal
translation icon : quejarse
  • 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

to complain
vsto kick
1.0

To say you are unhappy about something and want it changed

is more informal and used to show discontent casually
to sound off
vsto kick
  • Informal
9 7.0

To say your opinion or complain loudly and openly

expresses discontent in a calmer, less forceful way
to squawk
vsto kick
  • Informal
7 6.0

To complain loudly in a way that annoys other people

shows discontent without the sharp, irritating tone
to kvetch
vsto kick
  • Informal
4 9.9

To complain often about small things

expresses dissatisfaction more broadly, not only about trivial things
to plain
vsto kick
  • Archaic
3 7.9

To keep saying you are unhappy about something

is the same meaning but more informal
to kick up a fuss
vsto kick
  • Informal
2 6.4

Complain loudly about something small

expresses unhappiness without causing a public disturbance
to quetch
vsto kick
9.9

To complain about small, unimportant things

expresses unhappiness without repeated grumbling
to throw a snit
vsto kick
  • Informal
8.7

To suddenly become very angry or upset and act childishly

expresses unhappiness more steadily rather than sudden childish outbursts

Idioms

12 9.4

Suddenly stop seeing or talking to someone

7 8.6

To die, said in casual or joking speech

7 8.6

Get rid of someone or something you no longer want

5 4.2

Stop doing something bad you do often, for example smoking

3 7.4

A very bad disappointment that makes you feel hurt and unfairly treated

3 7.2

To have fun and forget your worries

3 6.7

To look at and try something before you decide to buy or use it

3 9.9

To do very well and act confidently, often in a forceful way

kick in the butt
  • Offensive
2 7.9

A kick to the behind that punishes someone

2 6.4

Complain loudly about something small

To treat someone badly when they already have problems

1 9.3

Play loud, energetic music to make people excited

1 8.8

Beat someone by a lot

on a kick
  • Informal
1 8.4

Having a strong interest in one activity for a short time

dog to kick
  • Informal
9.9

A person unfairly blamed when something goes wrong

Waste effort arguing about something everyone already agrees with

Try again to do something after failing

To resist authority in a way that is useless and makes things worse

7.8

To wait doing nothing because you are delayed or bored

Phrasal Verbs

512 3.0

Force someone to leave a place or group

129 3.5

To start an event or activity, often officially

126 3.4

Start to have an effect after a short delay

to kick ass
  • Offensive
65 9.3

To be very good and impressive

45 9.0

To beat or punish someone very badly

to kick it
  • Slang
41 9.8

To spend time relaxing with friends

38 4.1

Force a door or gate open by hitting it hard with your foot

to kick butt
  • Slang
18 8.5

To do very well and win a game or contest

to kick in
  • Informal
18 4.1

Give money to help pay for a shared cost

17 3.8

To make dust rise into the air by kicking the ground

14 5.5

Force open a door or gate by hitting it with your foot

to kick-ass
  • Offensive
11 8.7

To beat someone by a large amount in a contest or game

11 4.2

To cause trouble or a loud fuss

11 8.4

Pay someone secretly to get a favor

10 7.5

Treat someone badly and unfairly again and again

to kick around
  • Informal
9 4.6

Discuss an idea informally without making a decision

Help a project, plan, or the economy begin quickly

to kick around
  • Informal
6 7.1

Be alive or still active after a long time

2 6.1

To move back suddenly because of a strong hit

1 4.0

To force someone to leave a place, group or job

1 8.5

To give someone a lower job or rank at work

to kick rocks
  • Offensive
1 9.9

Tell someone to go away and leave you alone

Make a motorcycle engine run by pushing a lever with your foot

To have a sudden strong want to buy things you do not need when you see new items or sales

8.3

To stay alive or active when people think you will not

To put a plan aside and often leave it without action

To ask a higher manager to decide about a problem

to kick loose
  • Informal
8.1

To free yourself from a promise or duty that controls your life

Make people more interested and eager about something

to kick upstairs
  • Informal
7.9

Promote someone to a higher job to move them out of a key role

to kick upstairs
  • Informal
8.2

Send a problem to someone more senior to decide

To do something that gives you energy in the morning

Make something start or move forward more quickly

Compounds

14 4.0

The act of forcing someone to leave a place or group

free kick
  • Specialized
7 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

kick up
  • Specialized
1 6.9

A quick move that sends both legs over your head to start a handstand

kick-out
  • Specialized
1 4.8

A kick that a goalkeeper makes to send the ball back into play

extra kick
  • Informal
1 3.5

A small spicy taste or sudden energy that makes something more exciting

1 3.6

A kick by the defending team from the goal area to restart play after the ball crosses the goal line

1 8.2

A skiing move where you lift one ski and turn to go the other way while standing

dolphin kick
  • Specialized
4.0

A swimming move used underwater in which both legs move up and down together in a smooth wave

flutter kick
  • Specialized
3.4

A fast up-and-down kick with straight legs used in freestyle and backstroke

frog kick
  • Specialized
3.5

A swimming movement where you pull your knees up, straighten your legs, and push them together like a frog

9.9

A chaotic rushed situation that happens because of poor planning

kick plate
  • Specialized
3.3

A metal or plastic strip fixed to the bottom of a door to protect it from scuff marks

kick plate
  • Specialized
4.6

A removable panel at the bottom of an appliance or door that protects it and gives access to parts inside

kick pleat
  • Specialized
7.9

A short fold at the back of a straight skirt or coat that lets you walk easily

kick start
  • Specialized
4.7

A lever on a motorcycle that you press with your foot to start the engine

kick starter
  • Specialized
4.7

A lever on a motorcycle you push with your foot to start the motor

6.6

An attempt to score by kicking the ball between the goalposts

A strong spicy taste like black pepper that feels sharp in the mouth

place kick
  • Specialized
3.8

A kick in sports like football where the ball is placed on the ground to score or restart play

scissors kick
  • Specialized
4.3

A swimming leg movement that opens and closes the legs to move the body forward in sidestroke

A repeated leg movement in swimming that pushes the body forward

How Strong

to denounce
  • Formal
115 6.8
to protest
283 3.2
to kick
  • Informal
500 7.7
to complain
1.0
to grumble
41 3.7

Surface Forms

kick infinitive
kicked past
kicked past participle
kicking present participle
kicks third person singular

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.