1
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Phrase(s): kick something off
Fig. to begin something; to hold a party or ceremony to mark the start of something. (Alludes to starting a football game by kicking off the ball for the first play.) • The city kicked the centennial celebration off with a parade. • They kicked off the celebration with a parade., Phrase(s): kick off
1. Lit. to start play in a football game by kicking the ball. • Tom kicked off in the last game. Now it’s my turn. • John tripped when he was kicking off. 2. and kick the bucket Fig. to die. • Don’t say that George Washington "kicked off." Say that he "passed away." • My cat kicked off last night. She was tough as a lion. • When I kick the bucket, I want a huge funeral with lots of flowers and crying., Phrase(s): kick something off (of) someone or something [and] kick something off
to knock something off someone or something by kicking. (Of is usually retained before pronouns.) • The baby must have kicked her covers off of herself in the night. • She kicked off her covers in the night.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs
2
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1. Start, begin, as in They kicked off the celebration with a parade. This term alludes to starting play by kicking the ball in soccer, football, and similar sports. [Mid-1800s] 2. See KICK IN, def. 2.
American Heritage Idioms