peppery kick
- noun
- The salsa had a peppery kick that lingered pleasantly on my tongue.
Examples
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This cheese offers a mild flavor at first, followed by a sudden peppery kick.
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She added extra radishes to give the salad a peppery kick.
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This dish has a delightful peppery kick!
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The sauce adds a peppery kick to the meal.
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The salsa had a peppery kick that lingered pleasantly on my tongue.
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She added extra radishes to give the salad a peppery kick.
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This cheese offers a mild flavor at first, followed by a sudden peppery kick.
Synonyms
A sudden feeling of energy or excitement
A small strong taste often from a spice
A strong hot taste that makes your mouth tingle
A sudden strong taste in food or drink
A small spicy taste or sudden energy that makes something more exciting
A sharp, spicy taste like pepper that stings the tongue
How strong the spicy taste of food is
A small unexpected hot flavor added to a dish
Antonyms
How Peppery
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly and transparently derived from combining 'peppery' (having the taste or aroma of pepper) with 'kick' (a sudden strong sensory effect), so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer a sharp spicy sensation. This adjective+noun composition follows common descriptive patterns and is readily interpretable without prior exposure.
Etymology
The phrase peppery kick comes from the image that peppery means spicy and a kick is a quick, sharp hit to the mouth. That's why it is used to mean 'a strong, spicy flavor or sensation'.