kick butt

kick butt

1. verb To defeat someone or something decisively. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "kick" and "butt." We weren't prepared for that game, and the other team kicked our butts.
2. verb To physically attack one; to beat one up. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "kick" and "butt." I'll kick your butt if I ever see you talking to my girlfriend again.
3. verb To be very effective or successful. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is not used between "kick" and "butt." This new strategy is really kicking butt and keeping the groundhogs away from my vegetable garden!
4. verb To be excellent or exceptional. That movie kicked butt! All movies should be like that!
5. verb To motivate one or shock one out of complacency. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "kick" and "butt." The professor's speech today kind of kicked my butt and made me realize I need to start applying myself.
6. adjective Excellent or exceptional; awesome. In this usage, the phrase is hyphenated. That was a pretty kick-butt roller coaster.
See also: butt, kick
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

kick (some/somebody’s) ˈass/ˈbutt

(taboo, slang, American English) act in a very firm, controlling or aggressive manner: Now let’s kick some butt! ▶ ˈkick-ass adj. (taboo, slang, American English) very good: a kick-ass rock band
See also: ass, butt, kick
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

kick butt

verb
See kick ass
See also: butt, kick
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • orient
  • orient to
  • orient to (something)
  • spiff up
  • spiffed up
  • back into
  • back into (someone or something)
  • angle
  • angling
  • not do (someone or oneself) any favors
References in periodicals archive
The students from Shepherd Hill who participated in Kick Butts Day are members of the school's Students Against Destructive Decisions chapter.
Kick Butts Day
Rhys Simmons, Youth Development officer at the Filter said: "Kick Butts Day is about empowering young people to have the confidence to just say 'no' to smoking and protest against the way they're targeted by the tobacco industry.
Students join antismoking campaign
"(Kick Butts Day) is a day to stand out, speak up and seize control in the fight against tobacco," according to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.
The Kick Butts Day Web site includes information on planning activities, facts on tobacco use and downloadable activity guides.
Youth advocates gearing up for Kick Butts Day on March 28
The observance of Kick Butts Day 2000 on April 5 kicked off in Washington, D.C., with a live Webcast that featured the two winners of a national letter-writing contest telling the next president of the United States what he should do to protect them from tobacco.
Tackling Teen Tobacco Use
This year, Kick Butts Day will take place on April 5.
Kids Will `Kick Butts' This April
The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and Scholastic have teamed up to bring you this poster and guide for Kick Butts Day 2005.
Tobacco-free teaching guide: exciting language arts, social studies, and life skills activities for grades K-12
Today, known as "Kick Butts Day," is a national day of activism designed to empower students to stand up, speak out and engage against tobacco use, according to an EHD news release.
Egyptian Health Department to help 'kick butts' today
Celebrate that happy stat on April 13, 2005, the 10th anniversary of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids' Kick Butts Day.
Butt out!
The student activities inside are four effective ways for your students to take action and get noticed on Kick Butts Day.
Help your students take action
That's why your child's school is taking part in Kick Butts Day--to help kids take a stand against tobacco through activities that expose the tobacco industry's schemes, and to help kids say "no" to tobacco.
Dear parent or guardian
Kick Butts Day www.kickbuttsday.org The Kick Butts Bay Web site is your resource to create your own KBD activity, and to stay involved in the fight against Big Tobacco throughout the year.
Resources