kick in the teeth Definition

kick
verb kicked, kicking

1. To hit with the foot.

Example: The pony kicked the groom
Thesaurus: boot, punt, dropkick.
2. To propel something with the foot.

Example: kicks the ball
intr
3. To strike out or thrust with one or both feet, eg when swimming, fighting, struggling, etc.
tr & intr
4. Especially in dancing: to jerk (the leg) vigorously or swing it high.
intr
5. Said of a gun, etc: to recoil when fired.
intr
6. To resist it; to show opposition.

Example: kick against discipline
Form: kick against something (sometimes)
7. To get rid of (a habit, etc).

Thesaurus: give up, abandon, break, desist from, drop, leave, quit, spurn, stop, forsake.
8. rugby.
To score (a drop goal) or make (a conversion) by kicking the ball between the posts.
intr
9. athletics.
To put on an extra spurt.
Example: She kicked 200 metres from the finish

noun

1. A blow or fling with the foot.

Thesaurus: boot, blow, punt.
2. dancing, gymnastics, etc.
: a swing of the leg.
Example: high kicks
3. swimming.
Any of various leg movements.
4. The recoil of a gun, etc after firing.
5. colloq
A thrill of excitement.
Example: He gets a kick out of watching his son race
Thesaurus: joy, refreshment, enjoyment, fun, gratification, pleasure, stimulation, thrill, buzz (slang).
6. Power; pungency.
7. colloq
The powerful effect of certain drugs or strong drink, which is sometimes felt quite suddenly or unexpectedly.
Example: That fruit punch has quite a kick
8. athletics.
An extra spurt of speed; a sudden acceleration.
9. colloq
A brief enthusiasm.
Example: We're on a culture kick

Derivative: kicker

Someone or something that kicks
Example: Watch out, that horse is a kicker!

A player whose function is to take kicks, especially set-piece shots.

Idiom: alive and kicking

See under alive.

Idiom: for kicks

For thrills.

Idiom: kick ass

To act in a forceful or domineering way.

To have power or influence.

Idiom: kick in the teeth

colloq
A humiliating snub.

Idiom: kick oneself

To reproach oneself.
Example: I could have kicked myself for being so tactless

Idiom: kick over the traces

To throw off control.

Idiom: kick someone in the teeth

colloq
To inflict a snub on them.

Idiom: kick some-one up-stairs

colloq
To promote them to a position of higher rank but less influence.

Idiom: kick the bucket

colloq
To die.
Thesaurus: expire, pass away, die, croak (slang).

Idiom: kick up a fuss (kick up a row, kick up a stink)

colloq
To complain or disapprove strongly and vociferously.

Etymology: 14c as kiken.

Phrasal Verb: kick about or around

To lie around unused and neglected.
Example: The old set's kicking around in the attic
To be idle; to go about aimlessly.
Example: kicking about with his mates

Phrasal Verb: kick someone about or around

To treat them badly or roughly.

Phrasal Verb: kick something about or around

To discuss (an idea, etc) informally among several people.

Phrasal Verb: kick in

To take effect.
Example: as the effects of the pay freeze kick in commitment decreases

Phrasal Verb: kick off

To start, or restart, a football game by kicking the ball away from the centre.To begin a discussion or other activity involving several people.

Phrasal Verb: kick something off

To begin (a discussion, etc).

Phrasal Verb: kick someone or something out

To dismiss or get rid of them or it, especially using force.

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tooth
noun teeth

1. In vertebrates: any of the hard structures, usually embedded in the upper and lower jaw bones, that are used for biting and chewing food.

Thesaurus: denticle, fang, incisor, molar, tusk.
2. In invertebrates: any similar structure that is used for rasping or grinding food, or that resembles a vertebrate tooth.
3. Anything like a tooth in shape, arrangement or function, such as one of many equally spaced projections around the edge of a gear wheel or points on a comb.
4. An appetite or liking, especially for sweet foods.

Example: a sweet tooth
5. Enough power or force to be effective.

Form: teeth

verb toothed, toothing

1. To provide something with teeth.
intr
2. Said of cogs: to interlock.

Derivative: toothless

Without teeth.
Thesaurus: edentulous, fangless, gummy.

Powerless or ineffective.
Thesaurus: powerless, ineffectual, unenforceable.

Idiom: get one's teeth into something

To tackle or deal with it vigorously or eagerly, etc.

Idiom: in the teeth of something

Against it; in opposition to it.

Idiom: kick in the teeth (kick someone in the teeth)

See under kick.

Idiom: long in the tooth

colloq
Old.

Idiom: set someone's teeth on edge

To cause them a sharp pain in the teeth, eg when they eat something very cold.

To cause them to wince.

To irritate them severely.

Idiom: take the teeth out of something

To make it harmless.

Idiom: tooth and nail

Fiercely and with all one's strength.
Thesaurus: energetically, fiercely, fervently, vigorously, hammer and tongs.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon toth.