kick the habit

kick the (something)

slang To overcome an addiction to something. It took gum, patches, and even hypnosis, but I've finally kicked the habit. Unfortunately, the physical nature of heroin addiction means that kicking the habit isn't as simple as just wanting to stop. After saying such horrible things to my parents, I decided it was finally time to kick the booze for good.
See also: kick

kick the habit

slang To overcome an addiction, typically to drugs. It took gum, patches, and counseling, but I've finally kicked the habit—no more cigarettes. Unfortunately, the nature of addiction means that kicking the habit isn't as simple as just wanting to stop.
See also: habit, kick

kick the/(one's) habit

To give up something to which one is addicted, especially drugs. Different people have different methods of kicking the habit. For me, the only way I could quit smoking was by going cold turkey. You're going to need a lot of support from family and friends if you're going to kick your habit. Withdrawal is no joke. I've really been trying to kick my habit of compulsive shopping lately, but it's a lot harder than I thought it would be.
See also: habit, kick
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

kick a habit

 and kick the habit; shake the habit; shake a habit
to break a habit. It's hard to kick a habit, but it can be done. I stopped biting my nails. I used to drink coffee every morning, but I kicked the habit.
See also: habit, kick
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

kick a habit

Also, kick it; kick the habit. Overcome or give up habitual use, especially of narcotics. For example, Smoking is addictive; it's not easy to kick, or If he doesn't kick the habit, he may not make it through school. This idiom uses kick in the sense of "get rid of." [First half of 1900s]
See also: habit, kick
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

kick the habit

stop engaging in a habitual practice. informal
1992 Economist Perhaps it is time for ex-French West Africa to choose its own forms of government…and kick the habit of turning to France whenever trouble starts.
See also: habit, kick
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

kick the habit

tv. to voluntarily end any habit or custom, especially a drug habit. (see also knock the habit.) She tried and tried to kick the habit.
See also: habit, kick
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

kick the habit

Slang
To free oneself of an addiction, as to narcotics or cigarettes.
See also: habit, kick
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
See also:
  • kick the (something)
  • kick the habit, drug, booze, etc.
  • kick the/(one's) habit
  • kick a habit
  • shake a/the habit
  • shaken
  • make a habit of
  • make a habit of (doing something)
  • make a habit/practice of something
  • gum up the works
References in periodicals archive
So, if you want to kick the habit, just come along."
Drop in to help stub out habit
Nationally more than 200,000 smokers managed to kick the habit last year ( a huge 65pc up on the previous year.
North leads the quitters
Help to kick the habit is available by called the NHS Smoking Helpline on 0800 169 0169 or visiting www.givingupsmoking.co.uk.
Smoking 'less and less popular'
Researchers have had difficulty finding evidence that the addictive pull of nicotine and other drugs derives in any way from the unpleasant physical reactions people have when they try to kick the habit. Many recovering addicts, for instance, succumb to temptation long after shedding such withdrawal symptoms as shaking and nausea.
Hooked on a feeling
ImmuLogic, a Massachusetts company, plans to test an anti-smoking vaccine on volunteers--smokers trying to kick the habit. The vaccine's antibodies (substances that destroy foreign matter in the body) seek out and neutralize nicotine before it reaches the brain's receptors.
HOOKED ON NICOTINE
The former Wimbledon champ told her to forget ever seeing her three children again if she doesn't kick the habit.
It's Showbuzz; Drug user Tatum battles to avoid Mac's ban on visits
They are the first crop of smokers to 'Kick the Habit' with the help of the Sky Blues in the Community team.
WE KICKED THE HABIT
According to online store Stop Smoking Shop, which supplies nicotine patches and gum, thousands of people have been looking on the website for advice on how to kick the habit.
More to quit smokes
IAN Case has pledged to kick the habit and stub out cigarettes as part of Dwr Cymru Welsh Water customer service's Year of Healthy Living.
Ian's kicking some butt
MORE than 20 per cent of adults in Walsall smoke, but new research has revealed that a third of them would like to kick the habit.
Join roadshow to kick the habit
Nearly half of smokers have tried to kick the habit during the past year, according to the Cigarettes and Smoking Cessation Aids report.
FAG SALES FLAGGING; But smokers still pay more
Jack McConnell vowed he would offer the biggest support ever to help people in some of Scotland's most deprived communities kick the habit.
Smoking promise
AN animal charity is giving Huddersfield smokers one more good reason to kick the habit in the new year - passive smoking affects your pets.
Kick the habit for pets sake
Health experts said the figures should encourage more people to kick the habit.
Smoking death toll shocker
The Republic of Ireland has banned smoking in public places and,guess what,it is encouraging people to kick the habit.
YOU SAY: Habit kicker