kick things off

USAGE SUMMARY

"kick things off" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to describe the beginning of an activity or event. For example, "Let's kick things off with a round of applause."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

46 human-written examples

We're excited to kick things off tomorrow!

University of California, Berkeley

We'll kick things off at 11 a.m.

The Washington Post

I'll kick things off with REM's Drive.

The Guardian - Sport

To kick things off, students will give brief presentations.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

To kick things off, instructors gave brief presentations.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

We kick things off at noon on the East Coast.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

14 human-written examples

Soros himself kicked things off.

The New Yorker

That sort of kicked things off.

The Guardian - Music

Princeton kicked things off in 1998.

The New York Times

They're kicking things off with some clever viral marketing.

Independent

Amanda Lepore kicks things off with a raunchy penthouse party.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When you "kick things off", consider adding a brief, attention-grabbing statement to immediately engage your audience. For example, "To kick things off, let's look at the most interesting statistics we've gathered."

Common error

While "kick things off" is widely accepted, avoid overusing it in very formal or academic writing. Opt for more neutral alternatives like "begin" or "initiate" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The idiomatic phrase "kick things off" functions as a verb phrase indicating the initiation or commencement of an event, activity, or discussion. It often introduces the first step or action in a series. Ludwig provides numerous examples of its use across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Academia

25%

Formal & Business

19%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "kick things off" is a versatile and commonly used idiomatic phrase that effectively signals the beginning of an event or activity. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and wide acceptance. While mainly found in news and media, it can also be used in academic and formal settings, though care should be taken to avoid overuse in overly formal contexts. Alternatives such as "begin" or "initiate" can be used when a more professional tone is needed. Remember to use this phrase to capture your audience's attention and set the stage for what's to come!

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

begin

A general term for starting an action or event.

start

A simple and direct alternative for beginning.

get the ball rolling

Implies starting an activity, often with the intention of encouraging further action.

start the ball rolling

Another way to say "get the ball rolling".

get underway

Suggests a formal commencement or beginning of something.

initiate

A single verb that means to begin or start something.

set in motion

Emphasizes initiating a process or chain of events.

get going

A more casual way to say start

launch

Implies starting something with a lot of preparation and fanfare.

commence proceedings

Indicates a very formal start, often in legal or official settings.

FAQs

How can I use "kick things off" in a sentence?

You can use "kick things off" to describe the start of an event, discussion, or activity. For example, "Let's "kick things off" with a brief introduction from each team member."

What is a more formal alternative to "kick things off"?

In more formal settings, consider using alternatives like "begin", "initiate", or "commence" instead of "kick things off".

Is "kick things off" appropriate for academic writing?

While acceptable in some contexts, "kick things off" may be too informal for strict academic writing. More neutral terms are generally preferred. However, you can use this in introductory chapter, blog post, video scripts and so on.

What does it mean to "kick things off"?

To "kick things off" means to start something, often with energy and enthusiasm. It's an idiomatic way to describe the beginning of an event or activity.