feeling kicks in

USAGE SUMMARY

"feeling kicks in" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe the moment when an emotion or sensation becomes noticeable or intense. For example: "As the music played, the excitement feeling kicks in." Alternative expressions include "emotion sets in," "sensation arises," and "feeling emerges."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

But then that Christmas Day feeling kicks in; doubts about the power source.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

God bless, Mother Sarah; in spite of feeling "kicked in the stomach" by the cartoon, she turned the repugnant experience into a teaching moment for her daughter: "Well, Bristol, how did it make YOU feel?" Personally, I'd rather hear how Trig feels.

Huffington Post

I thought of what I'd want to say to them, when the fear ends and the more complicated feelings kick in: it's OK if in your sadness you do not want to strike back.

The Guardian - Opinion

Your feelings kick in, and all of a sudden you're "making" "love".

Vice

The Democrats have been brought in from the papal cold while Republicans speak of feeling "kicked to the kerb".

The Guardian - Opinion

In what situations have you felt the feeling kick in?

WikiHow

I still do.' " If this is true, when exactly did this "sickening feeling" finally kick in?

The New York Times - Books

It takes a while for the low feeling to kick in, though it does during the unfortunate finale when Mr. Williams brings out the knives, the blood and a villain who all but invites those knives and that blood.

The New York Times

Other songs on our upcoming EP include "Baby Boy" which was written over the course of my pregnancy; from feeling him kicking in my belly, to when he was born and into imagining him grown-up with a family of his own.

Huffington Post

I've become pretty familiar with the sinking feeling that kicks in when I realize I'm going to be late, and I'm sure I'm not the only one.

TechCrunch

When you have not had enough water, muscles tighten and the adrenals may kick in, which results in feeling anxious.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair it with a specific adjective, such as 'sinking feeling' or 'warm feeling', to give the reader a clearer sense of the transition.

Common error

Do not use "feeling kicks in" to describe a continuous or long-standing belief. The verb 'kick in' inherently implies a activation or a sudden shift; using it for something that has always been present creates a logical contradiction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "feeling kicks in" functions as a subject followed by a phrasal verb. In the examples provided by Ludwig, it acts as a dynamic descriptor of the moment a psychological or physical state begins to manifest. The verb 'kick in' is a phrasal verb meaning to start to take effect or become active.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Formal & Business

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "feeling kicks in" is a reliable and evocative way to describe the onset of an emotion or sensation. While Ludwig AI categorizes its exact frequency as rare, this is primarily due to the specific singular noun-verb pairing; the general pattern is common in high-quality journalism. It is most effective in narrative and descriptive contexts where the timing of an emotional shift is critical to the story. Writers should feel confident using it in journalistic, professional and casual settings, though they should consider alternatives like "<a href="/s/emotion+sets+in" target="_blank" rel="alternative">emotion sets in" for more formal or technical academic papers. Overall, it remains a powerful tool for capturing the dynamic nature of human experience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

emotion sets in

often used for heavier or more profound emotional transitions

feeling emerges

implies a more gradual or surfacing onset rather than a sudden trigger

sensation arises

focuses more on physical or sensory experiences than psychological ones

intuition kicks in

specifies the onset of a 'gut feeling' or subconscious knowledge

sentiment takes hold

suggests the emotion is becoming more permanent or pervasive

instinct takes over

implies the feeling is now driving one's actions automatically

sense develops

describes a slow growth of awareness rather than a sudden 'kick'

reaction begins

focuses on the response to a trigger rather than the internal state

mood strikes

suggests a more unpredictable or atmospheric change in temperament

state of mind occurs

more technical and less idiomatic description of a cognitive change

FAQs

How to use "feeling kicks in" in a sentence?

You can use it to pinpoint a moment of realization or emotional change, such as "As I stepped onto the stage, the nervous feeling kicks in."

What is a synonym for "feeling kicks in"?

A strong alternative is "<a href="/s/emotion+sets+in" target="_blank" rel="alternative">emotion sets in", which conveys a similar sense of onset but is slightly more formal.

Which is more common, "feeling kicks in" or "emotion sets in"?

While "feeling kicks in" is common in casual and journalistic writing, "<a href="/s/emotion+sets+in" target="_blank" rel="alternative">emotion sets in" is more frequently used in literature and psychological contexts.

Is it "feeling kicks in" or "feelings kick in"?

Both are correct. Use "feeling kicks in" for a singular, specific sensation and "<a href="/s/feelings+kick+in" target="_blank" rel="alternative">feelings kick in" when referring to a complex mix of multiple emotions.