kick at

kick at (someone or something)

1. To strike or attempt to strike someone or something with one or more kicks. We kicked at the various lizards and insects that came crawling toward us. The suspect kicked at me over and over again, but I refused to let go until the police arrived. We kicked at the floorboards, trying to force our way into the crawlspace below.

2. To propel something in the direction of someone or something else with a kick. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "kick" and "at." Please don't kick your ball at the house! I don't want a window to get broken. The police officer arrested the protestor for kicking a broken bottle at him.

See also: kick

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

kick at someone or something

to make kicking motions toward someone or something. The horse kicked at me, but I knew it was just a threat. The boys kicked at the can aimlessly.

See also: kick

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.