kick back
Third Person
kicks back
Present Participle
kicking back
Past Tense
kicked back
Past Participle
kicked back
1
to suddenly move backward due to a strong impact or force
- The explosive force made the door kick back, nearly hitting the person behind it.
- Be cautious when using this power tool; it has a tendency to kick back if not handled properly.
- When the engine started, the lawnmower's blade kicked back and struck the operator's leg.
- The powerful recoil of the shotgun caused it to kick back, surprising the shooter.
2
to unwind and relax, often by engaging in leisure activities or resting
- After a long day of hiking, they decided to kick back and enjoy the beautiful sunset.
- It's the weekend; time to kick back and unwind at home.
- After a hard week at work, he loves to kick back on the couch and watch his favorite TV show.
- We should all kick back and enjoy a barbecue in the backyard this weekend.
- The beach is the perfect place to kick back and soak up the sun.
3
to make an illegal or unethical payment, typically in exchange for favors, services, or influence
transitive
- The company's executives were caught kicking back large sums of money to government officials in exchange for lucrative contracts.
- Some contractors kick back a portion of their earnings to dishonest inspectors to ensure their projects are approved.
- The corruption scandal exposed how politicians were involved in kicking back funds meant for public services.
- The boss offered to kick back a percentage of the profits to those who helped secure the deal.
- The police are investigating a case where a high-ranking executive allegedly kicked a significant amount back to secure a favorable legal outcome.