kick against the pricks

kick against the pricks

To resist, protest, or fight against those in positions of authority. Our generation had to live through the Thatcher era—we were defined by kicking against the pricks!
See also: kick, prick
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

kick against the pricks

mainly BRITISH, LITERARY, OLD-FASHIONED
If you kick against the pricks, you show your opposition to people in authority. He was just an awkward young man kicking against the pricks. Note: This expression occurs in the Bible (Acts 9:5). It refers to cattle kicking out when people try to drive them by jabbing them with sticks.
See also: kick, prick
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

kick against the pricks

hurt yourself by persisting in useless resistance or protest.
In the Bible, on the road to Damascus Saul heard the words: ‘It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks’ (Acts 9:5). The image is that of an ox or other beast of burden fruitlessly kicking out when it is pricked by a goad or spur.
See also: kick, prick
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

ˌkick against the ˈpricks

harm yourself by protesting when it is useless to do so: People in prison learn very quickly not to kick against the pricks. If they complain, the prison officers make their lives very difficult.This idiom comes from the Bible and refers to the fact that an animal such as an ox may kick when it is pricked (= pushed with a stick) to make it move, but will still have to move.
See also: kick, prick
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
See also:
References in classic literature ?
"By God, your worship is right," replied the Castilian; "for to advise this good man is to kick against the pricks; still for all that it fills me with pity that the sound wit they say the blockhead has in everything should dribble away by the channel of his knight-errantry; but may the bad luck your worship talks of follow me and all my descendants, if, from this day forth, though I should live longer than Methuselah, I ever give advice to anybody even if he asks me for it."
View in context
The shows were a triumph, full of joy, adrenaline thrills and an urge once again to kick against the pricks.
Post-punk pioneers Skid back into city
In his new autobiography, A Kick Against the Pricks (the title refers to a Bible passage), the James Joyce scholar writes intimately about his life and the scandals that Norris says haven't allowed him a complete night's sleep ever since.
David Norris against the pricks: in a new autobiography the politician and scholar talks about how homophobia scuttled his chance to be Ireland's president
Because THEN there'll be something to write about, then there'll be an occasion to kick against the pricks. Have a little patience...
TAKE THAT AND TORY PARTY; BARLOW'S SINGING THE BLUES
Does their dictum also apply to Acts 22 where God speaks to Saul on the Road to Damascus and Paul preaches at Jerusalem, both occasions "in Hebrew?" When God tells Saul (Acts 26), "It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks," he is borrowing a verse from Euripides (Bacchae 795).
Speaking in other tongues: what language(s) did Christ speak?
The fact is I am sad tonight because I am dyspeptic & cannot "kick against the pricks." With love to Barrow--and the children, and their wives and the hope that I shall meet you in two weeks.
A New Letter from Varina Howell Davis
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