kick the debris

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "kick the debris" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where someone is physically moving or clearing away debris, often in a casual or metaphorical sense. Example: "After the storm, I had to kick the debris out of my driveway to make room for my car."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Hurricane surfs kick the debris of boaters onto the land.

The New York Times - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

When they make their own tunnels, they loosen the earth with their bills and kick out the debris with their feet.

Wikipedia

They believe that a host of Pluto-sized objects whirling around the star could be kicking up all the debris and that the solar system's ongoing formation may mirror conditions around the sun when it was just 2% of its current age, Newswise reports.

Science Magazine

Dozens of people gathered around in the schoolyard, clawing at the debris, kicking it, screaming at it.

The New York Times

It holds that the Moon formed from the debris kicked into orbit by the collision of a smaller proto-planet with the infant Earth.

BBC

The four companies conducted the cleanup without liability insurance, which is routinely arranged for nearly any job, and which would protect them against claims by residents and others -- for example, concerns that the debris removal kicked up toxins that damaged people's health.

The New York Times

Orbiting the moon as low as a few tens of kilometers above the surface, LADEE detected a dust impact every minute or two on average except when a meteoroid shower hitting the moon kicked up many more times the debris.

Huffington Post

Olive is a fierce gardener, she yanks dead brush, digs deep holes, plucks snails and kicks away debris but the result, the result is not flowers, but blooms.

Huffington Post

Those of us in Cairo wake up the next morning, kick over the sooty debris of burnt cars and the torn-up paving and broken walls, and try to figure out what happened.

The New Yorker

Adrenaline kicks in and I start to run across Broadway and down Fulton, chased by the debris of the collapsing South Tower.

The Guardian

Breezes can kick up debris that can stick to your paint job; direct sunlight makes the paint dry too fast and saps its protective properties.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "kick the debris" when describing a physical action of displacing scattered waste or unwanted material with force. It's suitable for informal contexts or when emphasizing the forceful nature of the action.

Common error

Avoid using "kick the debris" in formal writing or professional reports. More appropriate alternatives in such contexts include "clear the debris" or "remove the waste".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "kick the debris" functions as a verb phrase where "kick" is the verb, indicating an action, and "the debris" is the object, representing what is being acted upon. Ludwig AI confirms its validity.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Wiki

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

8%

Reference

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "kick the debris" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe the action of displacing waste, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. While its usage isn't very frequent, the phrase appears in various contexts ranging from news reports to how-to guides. Due to its active verb choice, it is best suited for informal and neutral contexts, with more formal situations benefiting from alternatives such as "clear the debris". It is important to remember the practical tip: Use "kick the debris" to describe a physical action of displacing waste. A common pitfall is its overuse in formal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

displace the rubble

Focuses on moving the rubble from a place, replacing "kick" with a more generic verb.

clear away the waste

Emphasizes the removal of waste material, using a more formal tone than "debris".

remove the fragments

Highlights the act of taking away broken pieces, fitting for post-disaster contexts.

sweep aside the litter

Suggests a quick and less thorough clearing of scattered waste.

eliminate the wreckage

Implies a complete and final removal of the remains of something destroyed.

shift the detritus

Uses a more technical term ("detritus") for waste, shifting focus to a scientific or analytical context.

scatter the fragments

Highlights how the waste is fragmented and scattered. It emphasizes the act of waste disintegration.

disperse the rubbish

Implies scattering the waste around, rather than neatly removing it.

rearrange the remnants

Implies organizing what is left behind, instead of getting rid of them.

distribute the remnants

Focuses on spreading remnants out, suggesting a lack of care in handling the remains.

FAQs

How can I use "kick the debris" in a sentence?

You can use "kick the debris" to describe a physical action, such as: "After the storm, I had to kick the debris out of my driveway." It implies a forceful movement of the waste.

What are some alternatives to "kick the debris"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "clear the debris", "remove the waste", or "displace the rubble".

Is "kick the debris" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "kick the debris" is generally more suitable for informal contexts. In formal writing, consider using phrases like "clear the area" or "eliminate the wreckage" to maintain a professional tone.

What's the difference between "kick the debris" and "clear the debris"?

"Kick the debris" implies a more forceful and possibly less careful action of moving waste. "Clear the debris" suggests a more organized and thorough removal process.