kick up one's heels



kick up one's heels

Enjoy oneself, as in When she retires, she plans to kick up her heels and travel. This expression originated about 1600 with a totally different meaning, "to be killed." The modern sense, alluding to a prancing horse or exuberant dancer, dates from about 1900.
See also: heel, kick, up

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
TychoTIE-ko (English)Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Duff[dʌf]
LambertLAHM-bert (German), LAHM-bərt (Dutch), lam-BER (French), LAM-bərt (English)German, Dutch, French, English, Ancient Germanic
BaŞAk-Turkish
Alannisə-LAN-isEnglish (Rare)
Klein[kləin]