kicker
/'kikə/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A player who kicks the football: In sports like American football or soccer, a "kicker" is a player whose primary role is to kick the ball, especially for scoring field goals, extra points, or kickoffs.
- A surprising or unexpected ending or condition: Informally, a "kicker" can refer to an unforeseen twist, stipulation, or drawback in a situation, plan, or story.
- A complaining or argumentative person: (Informal, dated) A person who habitually complains, argues, or causes a fuss.
Examples of Usage
- Noun (Sports):
- The team's kicker scored the winning field goal in the final seconds.
- He is the most accurate kicker in the league.
- Noun (Unexpected Element):
- The deal seemed perfect, but the kicker was the huge monthly fee.
- Here's the kicker: she already knew the answer all along.
- Noun (Complainer):
- Don't be such a kicker; we all have to follow the same rules. (This usage is less common today.)
Advanced Usage
- "And here's the kicker": A common phrase used to introduce the most surprising, ironic, or important part of a story or situation.
- The car was cheap, it was in great condition, and here's the kicker—the previous owner had just installed a new engine.
Variants and Related Words
- Kick (verb/noun): The action of striking with the foot; the source of the noun "kicker."
- Placekicker (noun): A more specific term in American football for a kicker who specializes in kicking a ball held in place on the ground.
- Punter (noun): In American football, a player who kicks the ball after it is dropped from the hands, distinct from a placekicker.
Synonyms
- Football/Soccer player (specific): Placekicker, specialist.
- Stipulation: Catch, hitch, snag, twist.
- Complainer: Grumbler, grouser, malcontent.
Related Phrases
- "That's the kicker": Used to highlight the crucial or problematic part of something just mentioned.
- We can go, but we have to be back by midnight. That's the kicker.
Noun
- a player who kicks the football