kick off

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.

See also: kick

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.

See also: kick

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.

See also: kick

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kick somebody off something (slang)

to force someone to leave a group Fred was difficult to work with and finally we kicked him off the planning committee. He was kicked off the team.

See also: kick

kick off something

to begin something We like to kick off the summer by having friends over for a barbecue.

See also: kick