to kick out the jams
1
9.3
- idiom
- Slang
- They always kick out the jams at the festival, making it a lively event for all attendees.
Examples
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When the band started to kick out the jams, the energy in the room skyrocketed.
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But now you're back to kicking out the jams?
Blog text (5) -
Kick out the jams, motherfucker!
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The Rockettes could easily kick out the jams on stage and also look amazing standing behind those giant charity checks.
Blog text (4) -
At the party, the DJ decided to kick out the jams to get everyone dancing.
Synonyms
18
7.7
Play or enjoy loud energetic music while moving and singing
9
3.7
To sing or play music loudly with a lot of energy
7
8.7
To play music loudly so people can hear
3
6.7
To hit something again and again with force, for example when playing an instrument
2
3.6
Make a rhythm by hitting something repeatedly, like a drum
1
7.8
To play music loudly and simply on an instrument
1
7.7
Play a loud, strong rhythm on a drum or instrument
1
7.0
To play a strong, repeated beat by hitting an instrument like a drum
Turn a control to make music louder
Antonyms
How Loud
- Slang
1
9.3
66
4.1
- Informal
10
2.0
∞
1.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase combines 'kick out' (which usually means to force out or eject) with 'jams' in the musical sense, so a learner who knows 'jam' as a song could plausibly infer a meaning like 'forcefully play songs' or 'let the music out'. However, the colloquial, performative sense 'play very loudly and energetically to energize an audience' relies on cultural/musical knowledge and a non-literal extension of 'kick out', so the connection is only partially predictable without exposure.
Etymology
The phrase kick out the jams comes from rock bands: jams were informal music sessions and kick out means to push something out. Saying kick out the jams gives the image of musicians pushing a 'jam' into loud, wild playing, so it now means 'to play music very loudly and with energy'.