Page 248 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary
P. 248
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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