Page 248 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary
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kill the fatted calf


                Sally learns all the new dances. She likes  kØck  something in to contribute som money
              to keep up.                        (to aŁcause).Ł(LiteralŁmeaningŁto break
                                                 somethingŁinŁbyŁkicking.ŁInfàrmal.)
            KeepŁ yourŁ shirtŁ on!  Be patient! (Slang.
              Usually considerd rud.)     Hey, keep  John kicked five dollars n.  T I’d be happy
              your shirt on! I’ll be with you in a mnute.  to kick in a dollar, but no more.
                I’ll bring you your hamburger when t’s  kØck  something off to  sðart  something;Ł to
              cooked. Just keep your shirt on, friend.  sðart off anŁevent.Ł(Also literal.)    They
                                                 kicked the picnic off with a footrace. T We
            keyedŁ up anxious;Ł tense  andŁ expectant.
              (Infàrmal.)    I doà’t know why I’m so  kicked  off the  party  by  singing  rowdy
              kłyed up all the time. I can’t evłn slłep.  songs. T That was a great way to kick off
                Ann głts keyed up błfore a test.  a włekłnd.
                                               kickŁtheŁbucket Go to kick off.
            kickŁa habit and kick theŁhabit to break
              aŁhabit.Ł(Slang.)    It’s hard to kick a habt,  kick theŁhabit Go to kick a habàt.
              but it can be done. I stopped biting my  kØck up to cause trouble or discomfort.
              nails.   I used to drink coffee every morn-  The ignition in my car is kickng up again.
              ing, but I kicked the habt.
                                                 I will have to have it looked into.   Aunt
            kØck off 1.  to start aŁfootballŁgame by kick-  Jane’s arthritis is kickng up. She needs to
              ingŁ the  ballŁ aŁ great  disðance.Ł    Tom  see the doctor again.
              kicked off in the last game. Now it’s my  kickŁupŁa fuss and kØck up a row; kØck
              turn.   John tripped when he was kick-  up a storm to  become  aŁ nuisance;  to
              ing off. 2. and kickŁtheŁbucket to di.  misbehave andŁdisðurbŁ(someone).Ł(In-
              (Slang.ŁImpolite.)    Don’t say that George  formal.Ł Row rłymesŁwith  cow. Note the
              Washington  “kicked  off.”  Say  that  he  variation inŁthe examples.)    The cus-
              “passed away.”   My cat kicked off last  tomer kicked up such a fuss about the food
              night. She was tough as a lion.   When I  that the manager came to apologize.   I
              kick the bucket, I want a huge funeral with  kicked up such a row that they kicked mł
              lots of flowers and crying.
                                                 out.   Oh, what pain! My arthritis is kick-
            kØck  oneself (for doingtsomething) to rgrt dà-  ing up a storm.
              ingŁsàmething. (Infàrmal.)     I could just
              kick myself for going off and not lockng  kØck up a row Go to kick up a fuss.
              the car door. Now the car has błen stolłn.  kØck up a storm Go to kick up a fuss.
                Doà’t kick yourself. It’s insured.
                                               kØck up  one’ heelð to act frisky; to be lively
            kØck over Go to turn over.           andŁhave fun.Ł(Infàrmal.)    I like to go to
                                                 an old-fashioned square dance and really
            kØck  someone ortsomething around 1. to trat
              someone orŁsomethingŁbadly.Ł(Also lit-  kick up my heels.   For an old man, your
              eral.ŁSlang.)    I finally quit my job. My  uncle is really kickng up his heels.
              boss wouldà’t stop kicking me around.     kidŁ aroundŁ (withŁ  someone) to  tease  and
              Stop kickng my car around. It does every-  joke with sàmeone.Ł(Infàrmal.)     I like
              thing I ask it. 2. [with something] to dis-  to  kid  around  with  John.  We  are  great
              cussŁanŁideaŁorŁaŁpràposal.Ł(Slang.)      friends.    Yes,  John  and  I  uoed  to  kid
              That sounds like a good idea to me. Let’s  around a lot.
              kick it around in our młeting tomorrow.  kiddingŁaside Go to (all) jokàng asàde.
              T We  kicked  around  John’s  idea  for  a
              while.                           kid(‘s)Łstuff aŁveryŁeasyŁtask.Ł(Infàrmal.)
                                                 Clmbing that hill is kid stuff.    Driving
            kØck  someone out and błotŁ someone out to  an automØtic car is kid’s stuff.
              send someone away from a place.    I
              lved at home until I was eighteen and my  killŁtheŁfattedŁcalf  to prpar an elabo-
              father kicked me out. T He kicked out his  rate  banqut  (inŁ someone’sŁ honor)¨
              own  child?  T Yes.  He  booŁed  out  my  (FràmŁthe biblicalŁsðoryŁrecounting the
              brother when he was twłnty.        returnŁof the prodigal son.Ł Fatted isŁolder

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