kick around

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.

See also: around, kick

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.

See also: around, kick

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kick somebody around also kick around somebody

to treat someone badly When his boss didn't promote him, he felt as if he'd been kicked around long enough, and he finally quit. He represents every big guy that's ever kicked around a little guy.

See also: around, kick

kick something around also kick around something

to discuss something I don't know who will be on the committee, but we've kicked a lot of names around. Black intellectuals have been kicking around the idea since the beginning of the twentieth century.

See also: around, kick

kick around

to exist She is one of the most creative people kicking around advertising today.

See also: around, kick