1 B1 neutral
To knock something over by kicking it with one's foot.
"He accidentally kicked over the bucket of paint, spilling it across the floor."
separable
kick over
B1 neutral separable transitive/intransitive
To cause something to fall by kicking it; also (of an engine) to turn over and start.
In plain English
To kick something so it falls over, or when an engine starts running.
What does "kick over" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic neutral
Of an engine, to begin rotating and start running.
"The old motorcycle's engine finally kicked over after several attempts."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To kick something so that it goes over and falls.
Actually means
To kick something so it falls over, or when an engine starts running.
Usage tip
The physical sense is straightforward and common. The engine sense ('the engine kicked over') is used in automotive contexts and means the engine has started rotating, though not necessarily fully running. Informal figurative use to mean toppling a system or idea is rare.
Words that pair with "kick over"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
bucket engine motor sandcastle barrel table
How to conjugate "kick over"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
kick over
I/you/we/they
3rd person
kicks over
he/she/it
Past simple
kicked over
yesterday
Past participle
kicked over
have + pp
-ing form
kicking over
continuous
Hear "kick over" in the wild
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