1 A2 idiomatic informal
To begin an event, game, meeting, or activity.
"The festival kicks off on Friday evening with a free outdoor concert."
inseparable
kick off
A2 informal separable transitive/intransitive
To start an event or activity, especially in an energetic or official way; also, to become angry, or to be removed from a place.
In plain English
To start something, like a meeting or a football game, or to get very angry about something.
What does "kick off" mean?
4 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 A2 neutral
In football/soccer, to start play by kicking the ball from the centre spot.
"England will kick off at 3 pm in front of a packed stadium."
inseparable
3 B2 idiomatic slang
(British informal) To suddenly become very angry or cause a scene.
"He kicked off when he found out they'd given his table away."
inseparable
4 B1 idiomatic informal
To force someone to leave a place, team, or group.
"She was kicked off the course for consistently missing deadlines."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
In football/soccer, to kick the ball to start play.
Actually means
To start something, like a meeting or a football game, or to get very angry about something.
Usage tip
The 'begin' sense is very common in everyday English and covers meetings, concerts, events, campaigns, and sports. In British informal English, 'kick off' means to suddenly become very angry or cause trouble. The football sense is literal and widely understood.
Words that pair with "kick off"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
meeting event campaign game concert season argument
How to conjugate "kick off"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
kick off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
kicks off
he/she/it
Past simple
kicked off
yesterday
Past participle
kicked off
have + pp
-ing form
kicking off
continuous
Hear "kick off" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "kick off" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "kick off"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
begin commence get under way launch open start
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