1. Home
2. Idioms
3. kick up

kick up

---

---

kick up

to cause trouble or discomfort. The ignition in my car is kicking up again. I will have to have it looked into. Aunt Jane's arthritis is kicking up. She needs to see the doctor again.

See also: kick, up

kick up

Malfunction, cause trouble or pain, as in My grandmother's arthritis is kicking up again. [Colloquial; first half of 1900s] Also see act up; also subsequent entries beginning with kick up.

See also: kick, up

kick up

v.

1. To increase the amount or force of something by some degree; intensify something by some amount: We were a little chilly, so I kicked the temperature up three degrees. Kick up the tempo during the chorus of the song.

2. To increase in amount or force; intensify: The waves at the beach really kicked up in the afternoon breeze.

3. To begin to take place spontaneously: A sandstorm kicked up when we were driving through the desert.

4. To arouse some activity: Those troublemakers kick up trouble wherever they go.

5. To show signs of activity, especially of disorder: His ulcer has kicked up again.

See also: kick, up