kick something off

USAGE SUMMARY

"kick something off" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to indicate the start of an event or activity. Example: "We will kick off the meeting at 10 AM." Alternative expressions include "start something," "initiate something," and "launch something."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"For a small, young business, keeping a low profile is a pretty cool way to kick something off," said Judith A. Bell, the author of "Silent Selling" (Fairchild Publications, 2002), a book about retail merchandising.

The New York Times - Style

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

It kicked something off in me.

The Guardian - Film

Yes, Bush, you and Blair have kicked off something very big -- a war of ideas with, and within, Islam.

The New York Times

Apparently, Twitter has just kicked off something they're calling their "Hack Week".

TechCrunch

In an effort to keep arms away from Russian-backed rebels in Ukraine, the United States may have kicked off something of an arms race back home.

Huffington Post

Before we get into that, though, I want to kick off with something else: Do you buy into the idea of techfin versus fintech?

TechCrunch

September 15 2015 Swann opts to kick things off with something a bit more personal: a sale devoted to fifty works from the collection of the late poet, essayist, memoirist (and onetime actress and dancer) Maya Angelou (Sept . 15.

The New Yorker

I thought frankly something would kick off, and I'm surprised that it didn't.

The New York Times

"We can't just maintain a standing army sitting in vans all over the place just in case something might kick off," he said.

The Guardian

When I kick off, well, I kick off".

Los Angeles Times

South Korea kick off with Kick Off Ball!

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "kick something off" to convey energy and enthusiasm when starting collaborative projects, meetings or social events. It works exceptionally well in modern business environments and journalism.

Common error

Do not confuse "kick something off" with the phrase "knock something off", which means to stop doing something or to finish work. Using the wrong preposition can invert your meaning from starting to stopping.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "kick something off" functions as a transitive phrasal verb. It consists of the verb "kick", the object (something) and the particle "off". In Ludwig, examples show it can be used with the object in the middle or at the end, demonstrating its flexibility as a separable phrasal verb.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Social Media

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Science

1%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "kick something off" is a dynamic and effective phrasal verb for describing the beginning of any organized effort. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is overwhelmingly popular in high-quality journalism and business contexts. It is grammatically classified as a separable phrasal verb, meaning you can place your object after the verb or between the verb and the particle. While it has an informal sporting origin, its current usage is perfectly acceptable in most professional settings. To add variety to your writing, consider alternatives like "launch" for products or "initiate" for a more formal tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

begin something

The simplest and most neutral synonym available in English.

initiate something

Provides a more formal and professional tone suitable for official reports or academic writing.

launch something

Specifically suggests the debut of a new product, project or marketing campaign.

commence something

Highly formal synonym often used in legal, academic or ceremonial contexts.

get something started

A more conversational and direct alternative for everyday speech.

trigger something

Implies that the action causes a chain reaction or a specific response.

set something in motion

Focuses on starting a process that will continue to develop over time.

open something

Usually refers to the start of a public event, a meeting or a physical venue.

activate something

Used when the thing being started is a system, a plan or a technical function.

instigate something

Often used when the action being started is provocative or negative in nature.

FAQs

How do I use "kick something off" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe the start of an event, such as: "The CEO will "kick the meeting off" with a short speech."

What is a more formal way to say "kick something off"?

If you are writing a formal report, you might prefer to use "initiate something" or "commence something" instead.

Can I say "kick off something" or must it be "kick something off"?

Both are correct. As a separable phrasal verb, you can place the object between the words or after them, though "kick things off" is a very common idiomatic pattern.

Is "kick something off" used in British or American English?

It is common in both. While it originates from sports contexts like football, it is now a standard idiom in both British and American "business English" and media.