kick back
To sit and relax with nothing to do, or (more serious) to give someone money illegally for doing you a favour.
Meanings
To relax completely, usually at home, after work or effort.
"After a long week, all I want to do is kick back and watch a film."
To pay or receive money illegally in exchange for a favour, contract, or advantage.
"The contractor was accused of kicking back a portion of the contract value to the official who awarded it."
To recoil with force, as a gun or engine does when activated.
"Be prepared for the rifle to kick back when you fire — keep it firmly against your shoulder."
The relaxation sense is very common and positive in informal American English. The bribery sense ('kickback') is used in legal, journalistic, and political contexts and is always negative. The recoil sense is literal (e.g. a gun kicking back).
Commonly used with
Forms
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Synonyms
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