Definition

Verb: 1. To open violently by kicking: To force something, typically a door, to open by striking it with one's foot with great force, often causing damage. - The police had to kick down the door to enter the apartment. 2. To cause to fall or break open by kicking: To use a forceful kick to break through a barrier.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • In the movie, the hero kicks down the door to rescue the hostages.
  • The firefighters kicked down the burning door to reach the trapped family.

Advanced Usage

• This verb is often used in contexts involving emergency entry, law enforcement, or dramatic action. It implies a sense of urgency, force, and often destruction.
• It is typically used with objects like "door," "gate," or "barrier."

Variants and Related Words

• Kick in (verb): A synonym often used interchangeably with "kick down" in the context of forcing a door open.
  • They kicked in the front door.
• Break down (verb): A more general term for forcing something open, which can involve tools other than just kicking.
  • They broke down the door with a battering ram.

Synonyms

• Batter down
• Smash in
• Force open

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Kick in: Can mean to start having an effect (e.g., ) or, as noted above, to break something by kicking.
• Kick open: To open something with a kick, but not necessarily with the same connotation of violent destruction as "kick down."
  • He kicked open the gate.

Related Idioms

• "Kick down the doors": Can be used figuratively to mean to overcome significant barriers or obstacles forcefully.
  • She kicked down the doors in the male-dominated industry.

Verb

1. open violently
   • kick in the doors