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kick over the traces

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kick over the traces
Fig. to do what one is meant not to do; to rebel against authority. (Alludes to a horse that steps on the wrong side of the straps that link it to whatever it is pulling.) At the age of sixty, Walter kicked over the traces and ran away to Brazil. All these young kids seem to want to kick over the traces.
See also: kick, trace

kick over the traces  (British & Australian)
to do what you want and not show any respect for authority
Usage notes: Traces are long pieces of leather which join a vehicle to the horse which is pulling it. If a horse kicks over the traces, it kicks its legs over these pieces of leather and goes out of control.
Some kids go straight to university and spend the first year kicking over the traces.
See also: kick, trace


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