kick back

To relax and spend time doing very little.

• Just kick back and relax.
• We kicked back on the sofa after dinner.
• I'm kicking back at home this weekend.

Similar words: relax, chill out, laze

Common phrases: kick back and relax, kick back at home, kick back tonight

To suddenly move backward with force because of firing, cutting, or another action.

• The gun kicked back hard.
• The saw kicked back when its blade caught the wood.
• Hold the rifle firmly so it doesn't kick back into your shoulder.

Similar words: recoil, jerk backward

Common phrases: guns kick back, saws kick back, kick back suddenly

To secretly pay someone part of the money from a deal for helping arrange it, often illegally.

• They kicked back money to the official.
• The contractor agreed to kick back five percent of the payment.
• How much did the company kick back to the broker?

How to use it: kick back something to someone (The supplier kicked back part of the fee to the official.); kick someone back something (They kicked him back ten percent of the profits.)

Similar words: pay a kickback, pay off, bribe

Common phrases: kick back money, kick back a percentage, kick something back

To return something to the person it belongs to or came from.

• I'll kick your money back tomorrow.
• They kicked the missing wallet back to its owner.
• If we find your keys, we'll kick them back to you.

How to use it: kick something back to someone (They'll kick the document back to its owner.)

Similar words: return, give back, send back

Opposites: keep

Common phrases: kick something back, kick back something

To drink something, especially an alcoholic drink.

• Let's kick back a few beers.
• He kicked back a cold drink after the game.
• We spent the evening kicking back beers with friends.

How to use it: kick back something (They kicked back a few beers after work.)

Similar words: drink, knock back

Common phrases: kick back some beers, kick back a drink, kick back something