kick back

1. Return stolen property to the owner, as in The pawnbroker kicked back the paintings to the gallery . [ Colloquial ; first half of 1900s]

2. Recoil unexpectedly and violently, as in This rifle kicks back a lot when you fire it . [Early 1800s]

3. Pay back a part of one's earnings, as in The workers were forced to kick back half their pay to the agent . [ Colloquial ; first half of 1900s]

Example Sentences

Trump kicked back at a country club he bought with inherited wealth.

From Salon

Belenky said it’s likely the plan will likely be kicked back to the agency to redo, but “what will happen on the ground in between is a question.”

From Los Angeles Times

In 2020, a contestant went viral for guessing “chasing tail” in the bonus round; “kicking back” was the answer.

From New York Times

It can kick back in if the numbers go above 2,500 a day, on average, in a given week.

From New York Times

So why not kick back instead of trying to dodge a head kick?

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• lie down
• recline
• sit back
• take it easy
• unwind