kick around

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kick around

The team members sit in a bright office to kick around some new ideas for the upcoming project.

Definition
  1. Verb (phrasal verb):
    • To discuss (an idea, topic, or proposal) in an informal, non-serious, or preliminary way: To consider or talk about something without a firm commitment or deep analysis.
    • To treat someone badly or unfairly; to abuse or bully: To have someone available to be mistreated, criticized, or taken advantage of.
    • To be present or in existence; to be alive or active in a place: To spend time in a place with no specific purpose or to remain in existence.
Usage Examples
  • Discussing lightly:
    • Let's kick around some ideas for the new project before the formal meeting.
    • We kicked around the possibility of moving to a new city but made no decision.
  • Treating badly:
    • He felt like his boss just liked to have him around to kick around.
    • The famous quote "They won't have me to kick around any more!" signaled his exit from politics.
  • Being around/alive:
    • I heard that old guitar is still kicking around in the attic somewhere.
    • Does your uncle still kick around the old neighborhood?
Advanced Usage
  • "To be kicked around" (passive voice): Often used to describe ideas being discussed or people being mistreated.
    • The proposal has been kicked around the committee for months without any action.
    • She was tired of being kicked around by her so-called friends.
Variants and Related Words
  • Kick (verb): To strike with the foot. This is the base verb from which the phrasal verb is derived.
  • Bandied around (verb phrase): A near-synonym for the "discuss lightly" meaning, implying an informal exchange of ideas.
Synonyms
  • For "discuss lightly": Bandy about, toss around, bat around, mull over.
  • For "treat badly": Mistreat, abuse, bully, push around, maltreat.
  • For "be around": Linger, remain, survive, exist, hang about.
Related Phrasal Verbs
  • Kick about: This is a less common British English variant with the same meanings as "kick around."
    • We were just kicking about a few concepts for the advert.
  • Kick off: To start or begin, often an event or discussion (different meaning).
    • The meeting will kick off at 9 AM.
Related Idioms
  • "To be alive and kicking": To be active and in good health. This idiom shares the "alive/active" sense with one meaning of "kick around."
    • Don't worry about him; he retired but he's still alive and kicking.
  • "A kicking" (noun): A severe defeat or instance of being treated badly.
    • The team took a real kicking in the press after their loss. (This relates to the "mistreat" sense).
kick around

The team members sit in a bright office to kick around some new ideas for the upcoming project.

Verb
  1. discuss lightly
    • We bandied around these difficult questions
  2. treat badly; abuse
    • They won't have me to kick around any more!
  3. be around; be alive or active
    • Does the old man still kick around?

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