In the USA, people use lots of fun phrases to explain everyday actions. One kind of phrase is called an idiom. Idioms don’t always mean what the words sound like. For example, if someone says, “kick the bucket,” they don’t really mean someone kicked a bucket. They mean something very different. Idioms about “kicking” are used to talk about starting things, stopping bad habits, or even getting angry.
Kids and adults across America hear these phrases in books, TV shows, and everyday talks. Some idioms with the word “kick” are funny, while others are used to show strong feelings. Learning these sayings can help students understand people better and have more fun with language. This article will show 28 idioms with “kicking,” what they mean, and how to use them the right way.
Idioms About Kicking
1. Kick the bucket
Meaning: To die
Example Sentence:
• Grandpa’s old dog kicked the bucket last night.
• In the movie, the cowboy kicked the bucket after the big fight.
Other ways to say: Passed away, died
Fun Fact/Origin: This saying may come from the way animals were hung from a bucket before being butchered.
Usage: Often used in movies, jokes, or stories about death.
2. Kick off
Meaning: To begin something
Example Sentence:
• The teacher kicked off the lesson with a fun game.
• The football game kicks off at 7 PM.
Other ways to say: Start, begin
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from football when the ball is kicked to start the game.
Usage: Used for events, meetings, or games starting.
3. Kick up a fuss
Meaning: To complain loudly
Example Sentence:
• The kid kicked up a fuss when he didn’t get candy.
• She kicked up a fuss at the store about the long line.
Other ways to say: Complain, make a scene
Fun Fact/Origin: “Fuss” means trouble, and this phrase shows loud behavior or anger.
Usage: Often used when someone is being loud about not getting what they want.
4. Kick around
Meaning: To discuss or consider something
Example Sentence:
• We kicked around some ideas for the school play.
• The team kicked around the topic of changing the mascot.
Other ways to say: Talk about, think over
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea of tossing a ball back and forth.
Usage: Used when people are sharing ideas without deciding yet.
5. Kick back
Meaning: To relax
Example Sentence:
• After school, I like to kick back and watch cartoons.
• Dad kicked back in his chair after a long day.
Other ways to say: Relax, take it easy
Fun Fact/Origin: It may come from the way someone leans back in a chair to rest.
Usage: Often used at home or during free time.
6. Get a kick out of
Meaning: To really enjoy something
Example Sentence:
• I get a kick out of watching funny videos.
• She got a kick out of scaring her brother with a toy spider.
Other ways to say: Have fun, enjoy
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea that joy feels like a burst, or “kick” of energy.
Usage: Used when something is fun or exciting.
7. Kick it up a notch
Meaning: To make something better or stronger
Example Sentence:
• Let’s kick it up a notch and add music to our dance.
• The chef kicked it up a notch with spicy sauce.
Other ways to say: Boost, improve
Fun Fact/Origin: Popularized by chefs on cooking shows.
Usage: Often used to suggest more energy or flavor.
8. Kick to the curb
Meaning: To get rid of something or someone
Example Sentence:
• He kicked his bad habits to the curb.
• She kicked her old shoes to the curb.
Other ways to say: Remove, throw out
Fun Fact/Origin: Refers to putting unwanted stuff on the curb for trash pickup.
Usage: Used when ending something or pushing it away.
9. Kick into high gear
Meaning: To start working faster or harder
Example Sentence:
• We kicked into high gear to finish the project on time.
• The team kicked into high gear after halftime.
Other ways to say: Speed up, go full force
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from driving, where higher gears mean faster speed.
Usage: Used when people begin working with more energy.
10. Kick someone when they’re down
Meaning: To treat someone badly when they’re already having a hard time
Example Sentence:
• It’s not nice to kick someone when they’re down.
• He lost his job and then someone made fun of him—that’s kicking him when he’s down.
Other ways to say: Be mean, hurt someone more
Fun Fact/Origin: Shows the idea of making a bad situation worse.
Usage: Used to remind people to be kind, not cruel.
11. Kick off your shoes
Meaning: To take off shoes and relax
Example Sentence:
• I kicked off my shoes and laid on the couch.
• She kicked off her shoes after the long walk.
Other ways to say: Take off shoes, relax
Fun Fact/Origin: Common in homes across the USA after school or work.
Usage: Used when someone is getting comfortable.
12. Kick-start
Meaning: To get something going quickly
Example Sentence:
• We need something to kick-start our fundraiser.
• A good breakfast can kick-start your day.
Other ways to say: Begin, jump-start
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from starting motorcycles using a foot lever.
Usage: Used for starting projects, events, or energy.
13. Kick yourself
Meaning: To feel sorry for something you did
Example Sentence:
• I could kick myself for forgetting my homework.
• She kicked herself for missing the bus.
Other ways to say: Regret, feel bad
Fun Fact/Origin: Imagines someone blaming themselves with a kick.
Usage: Used when someone feels bad for a mistake.
14. Kicking and screaming
Meaning: Fighting or complaining a lot
Example Sentence:
• He went to the dentist kicking and screaming.
• She did her chores kicking and screaming.
Other ways to say: Unwillingly, with protest
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from how kids act when they don’t want to do something.
Usage: Used when someone does something but doesn’t want to.
15. Kick in
Meaning: To begin or take effect
Example Sentence:
• The medicine kicked in after 30 minutes.
• My energy kicked in during gym class.
Other ways to say: Start working, begin
Fun Fact/Origin: “Kick” here means to activate or start.
Usage: Used when something starts to work or happen.
16. Kicked out
Meaning: Forced to leave
Example Sentence:
• He got kicked out of the library for being too loud.
• They were kicked out of the game for fighting.
Other ways to say: Removed, sent away
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea of a strong push out the door.
Usage: Often used for rule-breaking or misbehavior.
17. Kick the habit
Meaning: To stop doing something bad
Example Sentence:
• He kicked the habit of biting his nails.
• She’s trying to kick her soda habit.
Other ways to say: Quit, stop
Fun Fact/Origin: First used about smoking or drinking but now used for any habit.
Usage: Used when someone quits a bad routine.
18. Kick it
Meaning: To hang out or relax
Example Sentence:
• Let’s kick it at my place after school.
• We were just kicking it on the porch.
Other ways to say: Chill, hang out
Fun Fact/Origin: Slang used by teens and in pop culture.
Usage: Used informally among friends.
19. Kicked off the team
Meaning: Removed from a group
Example Sentence:
• He was kicked off the team for missing practices.
• She got kicked off the team for bad behavior.
Other ways to say: Removed, dropped
Fun Fact/Origin: Common in sports when rules are broken.
Usage: Used when someone is taken out of a group.
20. Kick in the pants
Meaning: A sudden push to do better
Example Sentence:
• That bad grade was a kick in the pants to study harder.
• Losing the game gave the team a kick in the pants.
Other ways to say: Wake-up call, push
Fun Fact/Origin: A playful way to describe motivation.
Usage: Used when something helps you improve.
21. Kick it old school
Meaning: To do things the old way
Example Sentence:
• We’re kicking it old school with board games tonight.
• He kicked it old school by listening to CDs.
Other ways to say: Go retro, do it the classic way
Fun Fact/Origin: Popular in music and pop culture.
Usage: Used when doing something the old-fashioned way.
22. Kick off your day
Meaning: To start your day
Example Sentence:
• I kicked off my day with pancakes.
• He kicked off his day by walking the dog.
Other ways to say: Begin, get started
Fun Fact/Origin: Similar to “kick off” for sports.
Usage: Used to describe morning routines.
23. Kick up dust
Meaning: To cause trouble
Example Sentence:
• The boys kicked up dust by starting an argument.
• She kicked up dust at the meeting with tough questions.
Other ways to say: Stir up trouble, cause drama
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from walking or running fast on a dirt road.
Usage: Used when someone causes problems.
24. Kick over
Meaning: To fall or tip something
Example Sentence:
• He kicked over the water bottle by accident.
• The wind kicked over the trash can.
Other ways to say: Knock down, tip over
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used in stories or actions involving kids or animals.
Usage: Used when something falls from a push or accident.
25. Kick the tires
Meaning: To test something
Example Sentence:
• Dad kicked the tires before buying the car.
• The teacher said we’d kick the tires on the new math app.
Other ways to say: Try out, test
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from checking a car’s condition.
Usage: Used when testing something new.
26. Kick up your heels
Meaning: To have fun
Example Sentence:
• We kicked up our heels at the school dance.
• Grandma kicked up her heels at the wedding.
Other ways to say: Celebrate, party
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from dancing and showing joy.
Usage: Used for happy, exciting moments.
27. Kick in the door
Meaning: To enter forcefully
Example Sentence:
• The firefighter kicked in the door to save the dog.
• The hero kicked in the door to stop the thief.
Other ways to say: Break in, force entry
Fun Fact/Origin: Common in action movies or rescue stories.
Usage: Used when someone enters with power.
28. Kick the can down the road
Meaning: To delay something
Example Sentence:
• Don’t kick the can down the road—finish your homework now.
• The town keeps kicking the can down the road on fixing the park.
Other ways to say: Postpone, put off
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from kids kicking cans instead of picking them up.
Usage: Used when people avoid solving a problem.
Quiz: Idioms About Kicking
Instructions: Choose the best answer that explains the meaning of each idiom. Pick A, B, or C.
Question Key
1. What does “kick the bucket” mean?
A) To drop something on the ground
B) To start a new game
C) To die
2. If someone says “kick off your shoes,” what are they doing?
A) Running a race
B) Taking off shoes and relaxing
C) Playing soccer
3. What does “kick up a fuss” mean?
A) To dance at a party
B) To complain loudly
C) To clean a mess
4. When someone “kicks back,” what are they doing?
A) Fighting someone
B) Going to sleep
C) Relaxing
5. What does “kick someone when they’re down” mean?
A) Help them get up
B) Make their problem worse
C) Ask them to play
6. If someone “kicks the habit,” what have they done?
A) Started a new routine
B) Stopped a bad habit
C) Learned to dance
7. What does it mean to “kick-start” something?
A) End it
B) Slow it down
C) Get it going quickly
8. What does “kick yourself” mean?
A) Feel sad about a mistake
B) Play a sport
C) Be really excited
9. If someone “kicks it,” what are they doing?
A) Playing sports
B) Hanging out or relaxing
C) Jumping rope
10. What does “kick up dust” mean?
A) Sweep the floor
B) Start trouble
C) Dig a hole
11. What does “kick the can down the road” mean?
A) Keep delaying something
B) Take out the trash
C) Walk quickly
12. What does “kick in the pants” mean?
A) A new pair of jeans
B) A fun joke
C) A push to try harder
Answer Key
- C – To die
- B – Taking off shoes and relaxing
- B – To complain loudly
- C – Relaxing
- B – Make their problem worse
- B – Stopped a bad habit
- C – Get it going quickly
- A – Feel sad about a mistake
- B – Hanging out or relaxing
- B – Start trouble
- A – Keep delaying something
- C – A push to try harder
Wrapping Up
Idioms with “kick” are fun and useful in everyday conversation. In the USA, people use them at home, in school, and even at work. These sayings can mean starting something, relaxing, or even quitting a bad habit. Now that you’ve learned 28 of them, you can understand people better and even try using them yourself.
Remember, idioms don’t always mean what the words say. So it’s cool to learn their real meanings. Keep listening for these fun phrases—you’ll hear them more than you think.
