kick up
B2 informal separable transitive
In simple words
To complain loudly or cause trouble about something, or to send dust flying up into the air.
Literal meaning: To kick something upward, like dust or debris.
Meanings
1 B2
idiomatic
informal
To create a noisy protest or cause trouble, especially by complaining forcefully.
"The residents kicked up a huge fuss when the council announced plans to close the library."
Grammar: separable
2 B1 neutral
To send dust, dirt, or debris into the air by kicking or moving through it.
"The horses kicked up a cloud of dust as they galloped across the dry field."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
Almost always used with nouns like 'fuss', 'a row', 'a stink', 'a storm', or 'dust'. The protest/complaint sense is very common in British and Irish English. The literal dust sense is also widely used.
Commonly used with
fuss a row a stink dust dirt trouble a storm
Forms
Base
kick up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
kicks up
he/she/it
Past simple
kicked up
yesterday
Past participle
kicked up
have + pp
-ing form
kicking up
continuous
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Synonyms
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