kick off

Register · Informal Informal — used in casual, everyday conversation among friends and family. Avoid in formal writing or professional settings. CEFR B1

Post

Figurative meaning

to begin an event, meeting, or project

Why this phrase?

The start of an activity is compared to the kick that puts a ball into play at the beginning of a match.

Example

“We kick off the sprint with a short standup.”

Dictionary details

Component words

kick

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

kick the tires Informal · CEFR B1

to inspect or test something before committing to it

kick the habit Informal · CEFR B2

to stop a persistent behavior, especially an addictive one

kick up a fuss Informal · CEFR B2

to react with a noisy, angry complaint, often over a minor issue

actions speak louder than words Neutral · CEFR B1

What you do matters more than what you say.

circle back Informal · CEFR B1

to return to a topic or person later, after other things have happened

pull the trigger Informal · CEFR B1

to finally make a decision and act on it

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

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