kick upstairs

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Related to kick upstairs: kicking around

kick

(kĭk)

v. kicked, kick·ing, kicks

v.intr.

1. To extend the leg away from the body; strike out with the foot or feet.

2. Sports

a. To score or gain ground by kicking a ball.

b. To punt in football.

c. To propel the body in swimming by moving the legs, as with a flutter kick or frog kick.

3. To recoil: The powerful rifle kicked upon being fired.

4. Informal

a. To express negative feelings vigorously; complain.

b. To oppose by argument; protest.

v.tr.

1. To strike with the foot: kicked the wall in frustration.

2. To propel by striking with the foot: kick a ball.

3. To spring back against suddenly: The rifle kicked my shoulder when I fired it.

4. Sports To score (a goal or point) by kicking a ball.

a. A vigorous blow with the foot.

b. Sports The motion of the legs that propels the body in swimming.

2. Any of various moves in dance in which the leg is extended from the body.

3. A jolting recoil: a rifle with a heavy kick.

4. Slang A complaint; a protest.

5. Slang Power; force: a car engine with a lot of kick.

6. Slang

a. A feeling of pleasurable stimulation: got a kick out of the show.

b. kicks Fun: went bowling just for kicks.

7. Slang Temporary, often obsessive interest: I'm on a science fiction kick.

8. Slang A sudden, striking surprise; a twist.

9. kicks Slang Shoes.

10. Sports

a. The act or an instance of kicking a ball.

b. A kicked ball.

c. The distance spanned by a kicked ball.

Phrasal Verbs:

kick about Informal

To move from place to place.

kick around Informal

1. To treat badly; abuse.

2. To move from place to place: "spent the next three years in Italy, kicking around the country on a motor scooter" (Charles E. Claffey).

3. To give thought or consideration to; ponder or discuss.

kick back

1. To recoil unexpectedly and violently.

2. Informal To take it easy; relax: kicked back at home and watched TV.

3. Slang To return (stolen items).

4. Slang To pay a kickback.

kick in

1. Informal To contribute (one's share): kicked in a few dollars for the office party.

2. Informal To become operative or take effect: "His pituitary kicked in, and his growth was suddenly vertical" (Kenneth Browser).

3. Slang To die.

kick off

1. Sports To begin or resume play with a kickoff.

2. Informal To begin; start: kicked off the promotional tour with a press conference.

3. Slang To die.

kick out Slang

To throw out; dismiss.

kick over

To begin to fire: The engine finally kicked over.

kick up Informal

1. To increase in amount or force; intensify: A sandstorm kicked up while we drove through the desert.

2. To stir up (trouble): kicked up a row.

3. To show signs of disorder: His ulcer has kicked up again.

Idioms:

kick ass/butt Vulgar Slang

To take forceful or harsh measures to achieve an objective.

kick the bucket Slang

To die.

kick the habit Slang

To free oneself of an addiction, as to narcotics or cigarettes.

kick up (one's) heels Informal

To cast off one's inhibitions and have a good time.

kick upstairs Slang

To promote to a higher yet less desirable position.

[Middle English kiken, perhaps of Scandinavian origin.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

kick upstairs

(tr, adverb) informal to promote to a nominally higher but effectively powerless position

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Verb

kick upstairs - give a promotion to or assign to a higher position; "John was kicked upstairs when a replacement was hired"; "Women tend not to advance in the major law firms"; "I got promoted after many years of hard work"

elevate, promote, upgrade, advance, raise

assign, delegate, designate, depute - give an assignment to (a person) to a post, or assign a task to (a person)

tenure - give life-time employment to; "She was tenured after she published her book"

bring up - promote from a lower position or rank; "This player was brought up to the major league"

spot promote - promote on the spot; "Supreme Bishop Digby had been spot-promoted to Archangel"

ennoble, gentle, entitle - give a title to someone; make someone a member of the nobility

favor, favour, prefer - promote over another; "he favors his second daughter"

brevet - promote somebody by brevet, in the military

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References in periodicals archive ?

Interestingly, political observers are divided as to whether the posting of Rajaskeharan as governor, which is widely seen as a decorative position, is an appreciation for his work for the party or a kick upstairs for his failure to resolve internal bickering within the party.

On by-election eve, BJP state president in Kerala given governor post

Although, of course, Vincent, aged 68, has long been waiting for a kick upstairs and would have known it had arrived the second he was asked that question - just another quaint Vatican tradition dating from the Reformation when accepting high Roman Catholic office could get a chap a date with an executioner on Tower Hill.

I told God He'd have to find me another way of serving Him. He didn't listen - I returned to Rome. The rest you know

Now we see the split in the Coalition you just wonder how many names Nick Clegg has got on his iPad for a kick upstairs, and millions more added to the public bill for keeping this lot watered and fed.