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."
separable
kick up
B2 informal separable transitive
To cause trouble, raise a protest, or create a noisy disturbance; also to raise dust or debris by kicking.
In plain English
To complain loudly or cause trouble about something, or to send dust flying up into the air.
What does "kick up" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
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."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To kick something upward, like dust or debris.
Actually means
To complain loudly or cause trouble about something, or to send dust flying up into the air.
Usage tip
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.
Words that pair with "kick up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
fuss a row a stink dust dirt trouble a storm
How to conjugate "kick up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
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
Hear "kick up" in the wild
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