Kicked Kicking Kick Kɪk Stop Ball Door Legs

• stop kicking—it hurts!
• she was punched and kicked by her attackers.
• the boys were kicking a ball around in the yard.
• vandals had kicked the door down.

kick

Verb Forms

1. to hit somebody/something with your foot
• Stop kicking—it hurts!
• She was punched and kicked by her attackers.
• The boys were kicking a ball around in the yard.
• Vandals had kicked the door down.
• She had to kick the door open because her hands were full.
• She kicked at the loose pebbles by the roadside.

Extra Examples

• Don't kick the ball too hard.
• He was sent off for deliberately kicking an Italian player.
• They threw him to the ground and kicked him hard in the stomach.
• Marcia gently kicked the horse again to make it trot.
• She could feel the baby kicking against her stomach wall.
• She kicked at the loose pebbles by the roadside.
• Abe roared and kicked over a table.
• She kicked me on the knee.
• Suddenly the far door was kicked open.
• He got up angrily and kicked the chair over.
2. to move your legs as if you were kicking something
• The child was dragged away, kicking and screaming.
• The dancers kicked their legs in the air.

Extra Examples

• He rolled over in the sand, kicking wildly.
• I tried to dive back under, kicking with my legs.
• I was carried upstairs, arms waving and legs kicking.
• The little boy was now lying on his back kicking his legs in the air.
3. to be annoyed with yourself because you have done something stupid, missed an opportunity, etc.
• He'll kick himself when he finds out he could have had the job.

Extra Examples

• I could kick myself for being so stupid.
• I mentally kicked myself for missing such an opportunity.
4. to score points by kicking the ball
• SEE ALSO drop-kick
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/drop-kick_2
• to kick a penalty/goal
• He kicked 23 points, ensuring victory for New Zealand.
5. to stop doing something harmful that you have done for a long time
• He had been smoking for 15 years and wanted to kick the habit.
• to kick the drug/booze
6. very active, healthy or popular
• My mother is still alive and kicking.
7. to hit somebody/something very hard
• He was a dirty player and loved to kick hell out of the opposition.
8. to act in a way that is aggressive or full of energy
9. to succeed or win in an impressive way
10. to punish or defeat somebody
11. to die
12. to delay dealing with a problem
• This is another attempt to kick the can down the road and leave it to the next generation.
13. to have nothing to do while you are waiting for somebody/something
• We were kicking our heels, waiting for some customers.
14. if you drag somebody kicking and screaming to do something, they only do it with great protests because they don't really want to do it at all
• The president had to be dragged kicking and screaming to the signing ceremony.
15. to treat somebody badly or fail to give them help when they need it
16. to reject something or treat it as not important; to stop dealing with a problem
• He tends to deal with disputes by kicking them into the long grass.
17. to start to behave badly and refuse to accept any discipline or control
18. to test the quality of something to see whether it is suitable for you before you buy it
19. to complain loudly about something
• They’ll usually give you your money back if you threaten to kick up a stink.
20. to be relaxed and enjoy yourself
21. to move somebody to a job that seems to be more important but that actually has less power or influence
22. to continue to hurt somebody when they are already defeated, etc.

Word Origin

• late Middle English: of unknown origin.