kick ass

(redirected from they kick ass)

kick ass

1. verb, rude slang To defeat someone or something decisively. In this usage, a possessive noun or pronoun is used between "kick" and "ass." We weren't prepared for that game, and the other team kicked our asses.

2. verb, rude slang To physically attack one; to beat one up. In this usage, a possessive noun or pronoun is used between "kick" and "ass." I'll kick your ass if I ever see you talking to my girlfriend again.

3. verb, rude slang To be very effective or successful. This new strategy is really kicking ass and keeping the groundhogs away from my vegetable garden!

4. verb, rude slang To be excellent or exceptional. That move kicked ass! All movies should be like that!

5. verb, rude slang To motivate one or shock one out of complacency. In this usage, a possessive noun or pronoun is used between "kick" and "ass." The professor's speech today kind of kicked my ass and made me realize I need to start applying myself.

6. noun, rude slang Excellent or exceptional; awesome. In this usage, the phrase is hyphenated or spelled as one word. That was a pretty kick-ass roller coaster. Whoa, check out that kickass bike.

See also: ass, kick

kick ass

and kick butt

Sl. to actively motivate people to do something. It looks like I'm going to have to kick ass to get people moving around here.

See also: ass, kick

kick ass

Also, kick butt. Punish or discipline harshly; also, defeat soundly. For example, That foreman's furious; he's going to kick ass before the day is over, or Our team is out to kick butt today. [ Vulgar slang; 1940s]

See also: ass, kick

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 ass

kick butt

mainly AMERICAN, INFORMAL, RUDE

COMMON

1. If a person in authority kicks ass, they behave in a strict and forceful way towards people in order to make them do things. We're going to kick ass to make sure that these departments deliver when they say they will. This guy was in charge. He was kicking butt.

2. If you kick ass, you do something in a very impressive and exciting way. I wouldn't do the show if I thought we were going to suck. But I know we're gonna kick ass. He was sold to America as a star who could really kick butt.

See also: ass, kick

kick someone's ass

kick someone's butt

mainly AMERICAN, INFORMAL, RUDE

1. If someone kicks your ass, they attack you or punish you. Dad would have kicked my ass for allowing you to sleep here. We can kick his butt if he gets out of line.

2. If someone kicks your ass, they defeat you easily in a competition. There are guys who won't qualify for the Open who could kick my ass most days. The Chicago team played tough there, let's kick their butt when they come here. Note: `Ass' and `butt' are informal American words for `bottom'.

See also: ass, kick

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

kick (some) ass (or butt)

act in a forceful or aggressive manner. North American vulgar slang

1995 Martin Amis Information You got to come on strong. Talk big and kick ass.

See also: ass, kick

kick someone's ass (or butt)

dominate, beat, or defeat someone. North American vulgar slang

See also: ass, kick

kick (some/somebody’s) ˈass/ˈbutt

(taboo, slang, American English) act in a very firm, controlling or aggressive manner: Now let’s kick some butt! ▶ ˈkick-ass adj. (taboo, slang, American English) very good: a kick-ass rock band

kick ass

and kick butt

tv. to actively motivate people to do something. (Usually objectionable.) It looks like I’m going to have to kick ass to get people moving around here. Do I need to get you guys down here and kick butt to get you to play ball like the team you are supposed to be?

See also: ass, kick

kick-ass

and bust-ass

1. mod. powerful and vigorous. (Usually objectionable.) The guy’s a real bust-ass bastard!

2. mod. really fine; excellent; cool. (Usually objectionable.) That was a real kick-ass party you had the other night!

kick ass

/butt Vulgar Slang

To take forceful or harsh measures to achieve an objective.

See also: ass, kick

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.

kick ass/butt

Enforce one’s authority, strongly assert oneself. Both versions of this vulgar term seem to have originated in the mid-1900s in the military, where they meant to defeat overwhelmingly, and soon entered the civilian vocabulary. The latter, only slightly more polite, was used by President George H.W. Bush during the Persian Gulf War, when he referred to “kicking a little you-know-what” (cited by Paul Dickson).