kick away

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "kick away" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the action of forcefully removing something by kicking it away, often in a physical or metaphorical sense. Example: "He decided to kick away the obstacles in his path to success."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

General

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

50 human-written examples

Rensenbrink got up and slotted the penalty kick away.

The Guardian - Sport

London Shootfighters East is just a fly kick away from the bottomless wealth of Canary Wharf.

Independent

"The way he's playing, I'd recommend anybody to kick away from him," Coker said.

The New York Times - Sports

"You can't just move in and kick away the whole structure without offering something in response".

The New York Times

Some might see this as a desire to kick away the drawbridge once they're safely on the ship.

Independent

The Eagles threatened to kick away in both the first and second quarters before the Tigers upped their ferocity.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

10 human-written examples

The idea provokes an unintended response from Harlequins, a cosmopolitan club a drop-kick away from Twickenham.

The Economist

Gerken pushed Ward-Prowse's free-kick away and Southampton appealed for a penalty when Mings fouled Shane Long.

The Guardian - Sport

The Bears on Sunday began their game-winning fourth-quarter touchdown drive on the 34-yard-line because the Vikings chose to pooch-kick away from Hester.

The New York Times - Sports

The Anderlecht goalkeeper, Silvio Proto, was finally called into action in the 53rd minute when he was forced to punch Selcuk Inan's free-kick away to safety.

The Guardian - Sport

"We shouldn't have given the free-kick away for their goal, it was silly".

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "kick away" when you want to convey a sense of forceful removal or rejection, whether physical or metaphorical. Ensure the context supports the imagery of a kicking motion.

Common error

Avoid using "kick away" in situations where the action is passive or lacks a clear agent. For instance, instead of saying "The problem was kicked away", specify who or what performed the action: "The team kicked away the problem by implementing new strategies".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "kick away" is that of a phrasal verb. It combines the verb "kick" with the particle "away" to create a new meaning, indicating the act of forcefully removing something, either literally or figuratively. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Sport

23%

General

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

6%

Science

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrasal verb "kick away" is a versatile expression used to describe the forceful removal or rejection of something. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across various contexts. It appears most frequently in news and sports reporting but is also found in general writing. When using "kick away", ensure the context supports the imagery of a kicking motion and avoid passive constructions to maintain clarity. Consider alternatives like "get rid of" or "dismiss" for nuanced meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

get rid of

Focuses on eliminating or discarding something unwanted.

dismiss

Implies rejecting or disregarding something, often an idea or feeling.

reject

Suggests a refusal to accept or consider something.

discard

Emphasizes throwing something away because it's no longer useful or desirable.

eliminate

Highlights the removal of something completely, often a problem or obstacle.

shrug off

Indicates a nonchalant dismissal of something, like a worry or responsibility.

brush aside

Suggests dismissing something quickly and without much thought.

wave away

Implies rejecting something with a hand gesture, showing a lack of interest.

push aside

Emphasizes the act of forcefully moving something out of the way.

cast off

Indicates a complete abandonment of something, like a burden or responsibility.

FAQs

How can I use "kick away" in a sentence?

You can use "kick away" to describe forcefully removing something, like "He tried to "kick away" the ball", or metaphorically, like "They decided to "kick away" old habits".

What are some alternatives to the phrase "kick away"?

Alternatives include "get rid of", "dismiss", or "reject", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "kicked away" instead of "kick away"?

Yes, "kicked away" is the past tense form of the phrasal verb "kick away". For example, "He "kicked away" the debris after the storm".

What is the difference between "kick away" and "kick out"?

"Kick away" implies forcefully removing something, while "kick out" often means expelling someone or something from a place or group. For instance, you might ""kick away"" a stone, but you would "kick out" a trespasser.