Словарь американских идиом (8000 единиц)

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[keep watch] <v. phr.> To be vigilant; be alert; guard. * /The police have asked the neighborhood to keep watch against an escaped convict./

[keep your fingers crossed] See: CROSS ONE'S FINGERS.

[kettle] See: KETTLE OF FISH, POT CALLS THE KETTLE BLACK.

[kettle of fish] <v. phr.>, <informal> Something to be considered; how things are; a happening; business. * /I thought he needed money, but it was another kettle of fish - his car had disappeared./ Usually used with "pretty", "fine", "nice", but meaning bad trouble. * /He had two flat tires and no spare on a country road at night, which was certainly a pretty kettle of fish./ * /This is a fine kettle of fish! I forgot my book./ Compare: CUP OP TEA(2).

[key] See: LOW KEY, OFF-KEY.

[keyed up] <adj.>, <informal> Excited; nervous; anxious to do something. * /Mary was all keyed up about the exam./ * /Mother would not let Tom read a ghost story at bedtime; she said it would get him keyed up./

[kick about] See: KICK AROUND(3).

[kick against the pricks] <v. phr.>, <literary> To fight against rules or authority in a way that just hurts yourself. * /Johnny kicked against the pricks in his foster home until he learned that he could trust his new family./

[kick around] <v.>, <informal> 1. To act roughly or badly to; treat badly; bully. * /John likes to kick around the little boys./ * /Mr. Jones is always kicking his dog around./ Syn.: PUSH AROUND. 2. To lie around or in a place; be treated carelessly; be neglected. * /This old coat has been kicking around the closet for years./ * /The letter kicked around on my desk for days./ 3. <slang> To talk easily or carelessly back and forth about; examine in a careless or easy-going way. * /Bob and I kicked around the idea of going swimming, but it was hot and we were too lazy./ Compare: TRY OUT, TALK OVER. 4. To move about often; go from one job or place to another; become experienced. * /Harry has kicked around all over the world as a merchant seaman./ Compare: HAS BEEN AROUND.

[kick back] <v.>, <slang>, <informal> To pay money illegally for favorable contract arrangements. * /I will do it if you kick back a few hundred for my firm./

[kickback] <n.>, <slang>, <informal> Money paid illegally for favorable treatment. * /He was arrested for making kickback payments./

[kick down] <v. phr.>, <slang> To shift an automobile, jeep, or truck into lower gear by hand-shifting. * /Joe kicked the jeep down from third to second, and we slowed down./

[kick in] See: CHIP IN.

[kick in the pants] or [kick in the teeth] <n. phr.>, <informal> Unexpected scorn or insult when praise was expected; rejection. * /Mary worked hard to clean up John's room, but all she got for her trouble was a kick in the teeth./ Compare: SLAP IN THE FACE.

[kick it] <v. phr.>, <slang> To end a bad or unwanted habit such as drinking, smoking, or drug addiction. * /Farnsworth finally kicked it; he's in good shape./

[kickoff] <n.> The start of something, like a new venture, a business, a sports event, or a concert season. * /Beethoven's Ninth will be the kickoff for this summer season at Ravinia./

[kick off] <v. phr.> 1. To make the kick that begins a football game. * /John kicked off and the football game started./ 2. <informal> To begin; launch; start. * /The candidate kicked off his campaign with a speech on television./ * /The fund raising drive was kicked off with a theater party./ 3. <slang> To die. * /Mr. Jones was almost ninety years old when he kicked off./ Syn.: KICK THE BUCKET.

[kick oneself] <v. phr.>, <informal> To be sorry or ashamed; regret. * /When John missed the train, he kicked himself for not having left earlier./ * /Mary could have kicked herself for letting the secret out before it was announced officially./

[kick out] or [boot out] <v.>, <informal> To make (someone) go or leave; get rid of; dismiss. * /The boys made so much noise at the movie that the manager kicked them out./ * /The chief of police was booted out of office because he was a crook./ Syn.: THROW OUT(3).

[kick over] <v.> 1. Of a motor: To begin to work. * /He had not used his car for two months and when he tried to start it, the motor would not kick over./ 2. <slang> To pay; contribute. * /The gang forced all the storekeepers on the block to kick over $5 a week./ 3. <slang> To die. * /Mrs. O'Leary's cow kicked over this morning./

[kick over the traces] also [jump the traces] <v. phr.> To break the rules; behave badly. * /When their teacher was absent and they had a substitute, the children kicked over the traces./ Compare: ACT UP, CUT UP, LET LOOSE, OUT OF HAND, RAISE CAIN.

[kick the bucket] <v. phr.>, <slang> To die. * /Old Mr. Jones kicked the bucket just two days before his ninety-fourth birthday./ Compare: KICK OFF(3).

[kick up] <v.>, <informal> To show signs of not working right. * /John had had too much to eat and his stomach started to kick up./ * /After working well for a year the air conditioner suddenly started kicking up./

[kick up a fuss] or [kick up a row] or [raise a row] also [kick up a dust] <v. phr.>, <informal> To make trouble; make a disturbance. * /When the teacher gave the class five more hours of homework, the class kicked up a fuss./ * /When the teacher left the room, two boys kicked up a row./ Compare: RAISE CAIN, RAISE THE ROOF.

[kick up one's heels] <v. phr.>, <informal> To have a merry time; celebrate. * /When exams were over the students went to town to kick up their heels./ * /Mary was usually very quiet but at the farewell party she kicked up her heels and had a wonderful time./

[kid] See: HANDLE WITH GLOVES or HANDLE WITH KID GLOVES, HANDLE WITHOUT GLOVES or HANDLE WITHOUT KID GLOVES.

[kiddie car] <n.>, <slang>, <citizen's band radio jargon> A school bus. * /Watch out for that kiddie car coming up behind you!/

[kill] See: CURIOSITY KILLED THE CAT, IN AT THE KILL.

[kill off] <v.> To kill or end completely; destroy. * /The factory dumped poisonous wastes into the river and killed off the fish./ * /The president suggested a new law to Congress but many members of Congress were against the idea and they killed it off./ * /Mother made Nancy practice her dancing an hour every day; Nancy got tired of dancing and that killed off her interest./