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Phrase(s): kick around
Go to knock around., Phrase(s): kick someone or something around
1. Lit. to strike someone, something, or some animal with the foot repeatedly. • Billy is out in the alley kicking a can around. • Stop kicking that dog around! 2. Fig. to treat someone or something badly. • I finally quit my job. My boss wouldn’t stop kicking me around. • Stop kicking my car around. It does everything I need a car to do., Phrase(s): kick something around
1. Lit. to move something around by kicking it, as in play. • Kick the ball around awhile and then try to make a goal. • The boys kicked a can around, making a lot of noise. • Don’t kick around all the dirt. You’ll make a mess. 2. Fig. to discuss something; to chat about an idea. • We got together and kicked her idea around. • Fred and Bob kicked around some plots for a new movie.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs
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1. Treat badly, abuse, as in I'm sick and tired of being kicked around by my supervisor. [Colloquial; first half of 1900s] 2. Also, kick about. Move from place to place, as in They spent three years kicking around the country on their bikes, or We've no address; we're just kicking about until we find somewhere to settle. [Colloquial; early 1800s] 3. Also, kick about. Consider, think about or discuss; examine or try out. For example, Let's kick this scenario around for a while and see what we come up with, or We've been kicking about various schemes to make money. [Colloquial; first half of 1900s] 4. Be available or unused, as in This old computer has been kicking around for months? no one seems to want it. [c. 1900]
American Heritage Idioms