kick the habit
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kick the (something)
slang To overcome an addiction to something. It took gum, patches, and even hypnosis, but I've finally kicked the habit. Unfortunately, the physical nature of heroin addiction means that kicking the habit isn't as simple as just wanting to stop. After saying such horrible things to my parents, I decided it was finally time to kick the booze for good.
See also: kick
kick the habit
slang To overcome an addiction, typically to drugs. It took gum, patches, and counseling, but I've finally kicked the habit—no more cigarettes. Unfortunately, the nature of addiction means that kicking the habit isn't as simple as just wanting to stop.
kick the/(one's) habit
To give up something to which one is addicted, especially drugs. Different people have different methods of kicking the habit. For me, the only way I could quit smoking was by going cold turkey. You're going to need a lot of support from family and friends if you're going to kick your habit. Withdrawal is no joke. I've really been trying to kick my habit of compulsive shopping lately, but it's a lot harder than I thought it would be.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
kick a habit
and kick the habit; shake the habit; shake a habitto break a habit. It's hard to kick a habit, but it can be done. I stopped biting my nails. I used to drink coffee every morning, but I kicked the habit.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
kick a habit
Also, kick it; kick the habit. Overcome or give up habitual use, especially of narcotics. For example, Smoking is addictive; it's not easy to kick, or If he doesn't kick the habit, he may not make it through school. This idiom uses kick in the sense of "get rid of." [First half of 1900s]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
kick the habit
stop engaging in a habitual practice. informal 1992 Economist Perhaps it is time for ex-French West Africa to choose its own forms of government…and kick the habit of turning to France whenever trouble starts.
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
kick the habit
tv. to voluntarily end any habit or custom, especially a drug habit. (see also knock the habit.) She tried and tried to kick the habit.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
kick the habit
Slang To free oneself of an addiction, as to narcotics or cigarettes.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.