A humiliating setback or rebuff. For example, That rejection was a real kick in the pants, or That review was a kick in the teeth. A third, vulgar variant of these colloquial terms is a kick in the ass. Versions of this last expression— kick in the breech, kick in the behind—have been used since the early 1800s. Where did kick in the pants come from?
The negative kick, or kick in the pants, or kick in the teeth, as a mark of punishment or criticism, goes back to the 17th century, but in the kick-in-the-pants form especially to the 20th century. Kick in the pants has also appeared as kick in the behind and kick in the ass.
What is kicks in slang?
1. Kicks is defined as another word for shoes. An example of kicks is saying, “Nice kicks.” to compliment someone’s very cool shoes. What is a shot in the dark?
A wild, unsubstantiated guess; also, an attempt that has little chance for success. For example, It was a shot in the dark, but the engineers had a hunch that replacing the valve would make the system work, or You can try looking for your key on the beach, but I think it’s a shot in the dark. [ Colloquial; late 1800s]
What is open and shut case?
adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun] If you describe a dispute or a legal case as open-and-shut, you mean that is easily decided or solved because the facts are very clear. It’s an open-and-shut case. The hospital is at fault. Who will play along Meaning?
phrasal verb [no passive] If you play along with a person, with what they say, or with their plans, you appear to agree with them and do what they want, even though you are not sure whether they are right. My mother has learnt to play along with the bizarre conversations begun by father. [
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ)
What does the phrase kicked in mean?
1 : to begin operating or having an effect : get started waiting for the heater to kick in.
What does kick up a row mean?
To be very vocal in one’s displeasure about something; to make a scene. My mom kicked up a row when the store refused to accept her return without a receipt.
What does scarce as hen’s teeth mean?
Exceptionally rare, as in On a rainy night, taxis are as scarce as hen’s teeth. Since hens have no teeth, this term in effect says that something is so scarce as to be nonexistent. [
When did Kicks become slang?
A: The use of “kicks” for shoes originated in 1890s American slang, and judging from the earliest examples, it had unsavory beginnings among tramps and thieves.
What does kicking it mean in a relationship?
What does the phrase shot in the arm mean?
A stimulus or booster, something vitalizing or encouraging, as in Getting a new concertmaster was a real shot in the arm for the orchestra. This colloquial expression alludes to a stimulant given by injection. [
What does stab in the dark mean?
1 : a guess that is based on very little or no information or evidence They don’t really know how much the work will cost. They’re just taking a stab in the dark. 2 : an attempt that is not likely to succeed It’s a stab in the dark, but we should try anyway.
Where does stab in the dark come from?
George Bernard Shaw is credited as being the first to use a shot in the dark in a metaphorical sense, in The Saturday Review in 1895. A stab in the dark is a variant of the idiom a shot in the dark, and also may mean a wild guess or an attempt that has very little chance of being successful.
What is hollow?
having a space or cavity inside; not solid; empty: a hollow sphere. having a depression or concavity: a hollow surface. sunken, as the cheeks or eyes. (of sound) not resonant; dull, muffled, or deep: a hollow voice. without real or significant worth; meaningless: a hollow victory.
What do u mean by shut?
1 : to close itself or become closed flowers that shut at night. 2 : to cease or suspend an operation or activity —often used with down. shut.
What is open shirt case?
: a case open to no doubts as to the legal principles to be applied and the necessary result.
What spokesperson means?
noun. a person who speaks for another or for a group.
What’s the meaning of tag along?
tagged along; tagging along; tags along. Definition of tag along (Entry 2 of 2) intransitive verb. : to follow another’s lead especially in going from one place to another.
What is the meaning of play for time?
: to try to make something happen later instead of sooner : to try to delay something They’re just playing for time, hoping that the situation will resolve itself.
How do you use kick in?
kick in
- phrasal verb. If something kicks in, it begins to take effect. As discounts kicked in, bookings for immediate travel rose by 15%. [ VERB PARTICLE] …
- phrasal verb. If someone kicks in a particular amount of money, they provide that amount of money to help pay for something. [US] …
- See also kick down.
Is kick in an idiom?
1) to start to operate or become effective; 2) to contribute something (especially money). Notes: As noted above, there are two different meanings with this idiom.
Is kick in informal?
to recoil, especially vigorously or unexpectedly. Informal. to give someone a kickback. Slang. to return (stolen property, money, etc.) to the owner. to relax: Let’s just kick back and enjoy the weekend.
What is the meaning of the idiom take to task?
To take to task is to chew someone out for something they’ve done wrong. If you don’t do your homework for a week, your teacher will take you to task, and you better straighten up!
What does kith and kin mean?
Quick Reference. One’s relations. The word kith is Old English, and the original senses were ‘knowledge’, ‘one’s native land’, and ‘friends and neighbours’. The phrase kith and kin originally denoted one’s country and relatives; later one’s friends and relatives.
What does kick my heels mean?
to waste time waiting for someone or something. They were forced to kick their heels for nearly a quarter of an hour. Synonyms and related words. To waste time, or to pass time doing unimportant things.
Graduated from ENSAT (national agronomic school of Toulouse) in plant sciences in 2018, I pursued a CIFRE doctorate under contract with Sun’Agri and INRAE in Avignon between 2019 and 2022. My thesis aimed to study dynamic agrivoltaic systems, in my case in arboriculture. I love to write and share science related Stuff Here on my Website. I am currently continuing at Sun’Agri as an R&D engineer.