kick

kick — verb

1. To hit, push, or move someone or something by swinging your foot into them or it

1.動詞及物 / 不及物A1
釋義

To hit, push, or move someone or something by swinging your foot into them or it, or to thrash your legs about.

例句

Hao kicked the ball across the yard to his little sister.

transitive: kick + object (ball)

The baby lay on her back and kicked her legs in the air happily.

transitive: kick + body part

同義詞
  • boot

    to kick hard or to kick something away, often used when wearing boots

  • punt

    to drop a ball and kick it before it hits the ground, used in specific sports contexts

  • strike

    broader meaning — to hit with any body part or object, not only the foot

反義詞
  • catch

    to receive an object, especially a ball, with the hands

文法句型

kick + object

kick + (no object)

用法筆記

Transitive when you strike an object (kick the ball) or a person (kick someone). Intransitive when describing the action without an object (the baby was kicking), or with 'at' to indicate direction (kicked at the door).

常見錯誤

❌He kicked on the door until someone answered.
✅He kicked the door until someone answered.
💡When the foot directly strikes the object, no preposition is needed.
❌She kicked the ball with her hand.
✅She kicked the ball with her foot.
💡The verb 'kick' always refers to using the foot, never the hand.

2. To score points in football, rugby, or similar sports by striking the ball into

2.動詞及物B1
釋義

To score points in football, rugby, or similar sports by striking the ball into or through the target area.

例句

Andrew kicked a goal in the final minute and won the game for his team.

transitive: kick + a goal

The striker kicked the ball past the goalkeeper into the corner of the net.

resultative: past + into + location

同義詞
  • score

    to get a point in any sport; broader and not specific to using the foot

  • convert

    to score additional points after a try in rugby

  • punt

    to drop and kick the ball before it touches the ground in American football

文法句型

kick + object (goal/ball/point)

用法筆記

In American football, 'kick' can also refer to sending the ball downfield without scoring (kickoff, punt). In soccer (football), the focus is on scoring goals. The object is usually 'the ball', 'a goal', or a type of kick like 'a penalty'.

常見錯誤

❌The player kicked a basket for the winning points.
✅The player kicked a goal for the winning points.
💡In football and rugby, the scoring target is called a 'goal', not a 'basket'.

3. To end an unhealthy pattern of behavior, like smoking or overeating, that you ha

3.動詞及物B2
釋義

To end an unhealthy pattern of behavior, like smoking or overeating, that you have followed for a long period of time.

例句

After ten years of smoking, Hao finally kicked the habit last spring.

fixed phrase: kick the habit

Caleb tried to kick his sugar addiction by eating fruit instead of candy.

pattern: kick + possessive + habit/addiction

同義詞
  • quit

    to stop doing something; neutral register, works in both formal and informal contexts

  • give up

    to stop a habit or activity; slightly more common than 'kick' in everyday speech

  • break

    to end a habit, often with effort; used in 'break a habit'

反義詞
  • take up

    to start a new habit or activity

文法句型

kick + the habit

kick + addiction/behavior

用法筆記

Informal but very common in everyday speech and health contexts. The object is typically 'the habit' or a specific harmful behavior by name ('kick smoking', 'kick caffeine'). Avoid using in formal writing.

常見錯誤

❌I kicked my smoking last month.
✅I kicked my smoking habit last month.' or 'I kicked smoking last month.
💡The word 'habit' is often kept in the phrase, or the behavior name stands alone without 'habit'.

4. To suddenly jump backwards with force when firing — used of a gun, rifle, or sim

4.動詞不及物B2
釋義

To suddenly jump backwards with force when firing — used of a gun, rifle, or similar weapon.

例句

The old rifle kicked hard against Eitan's shoulder when he fired it.

intransitive: noun (gun) + kicks + adverb

This shotgun does not kick as much as the heavier hunting models.

同義詞
  • recoil

    formal term for a gun jumping backward when fired; the standard technical word

  • jerk back

    describes the sudden backward movement, less specific to guns

文法句型

gun + kicks

用法筆記

Only used intransitively. The subject must be a gun or similar weapon. Avoid using this for non-weapon objects that jolt — 'the engine kicked' is not correct for this sense.

常見錯誤

❌The car kicked when I started the engine.
✅The car jerked when I started the engine.
💡'Kick' for recoil describes a specific gun action, not general vehicle movement.

5. To feel angry at yourself after making a silly error or failing to seize an oppo

5.動詞及物C2
釋義

To feel angry at yourself after making a silly error or failing to seize an opportunity.

例句

After forgetting her passport, Ingrid could have kicked herself for being so careless.

reflexive: could have kicked + myself/yourself/himself/herself

Samir kicked himself for not buying the house when the price was lower.

同義詞
  • regret

    to feel sorry about something you did or did not do; broader and more formal

  • berate oneself

    to criticize yourself angrily; more formal and stronger in tone

文法句型

could have kicked + myself/yourself/himself/herself/themselves + for

用法筆記

Almost always uses the reflexive pronoun (yourself, himself, etc.) and is most common in the modal form 'could have kicked'. The simple past 'kicked himself' is also possible. Typically followed by 'for' plus a reason.

常見錯誤

❌I kicked myself because I lost my keys.
✅I could have kicked myself for losing my keys.
💡The idiomatic pattern favors 'could have' rather than the simple past, and 'for' rather than 'because'.

kick — noun