kick back

Verb

kick back (third-person singular simple present kicks back, present participle kicking back, simple past and past participle kicked back)

1. (idiomatic, informal, intransitive) To relax; to laze.
   • I'm going to stay at home on Saturday and just kick back.
   • Ooh, bet you're thinking, "She's so cool"
     Kicking back on your couch, making eyes from across the room
     Wait, I think I've been there too2024, Gracie Abrams, Audrey Hobert, “That's So True”, in The Secret of Us, performed by Gracie Abrams

   Synonyms:

   take it easy, lie back, kick it, kick up one's heels

2. (idiomatic, informal, intransitive, transitive) To pay part of the proceeds of a transaction to a person or organization that mediated it, often in a way that is covert, improper, and illegal.
   • It was the local government’s practice to kick back to the police officer a portion of the fines collected from traffic tickets.
   • It was the insurer’s practice to kick back to the broker approximately 0.12% of the premium paid by the policyholder.
3. (idiomatic, informal) To return (something) to its original or rightful owner.
   • They'll kick it back to you if it turns up.
4. (idiomatic, informal) To drink (something).
   • We'll kick back some beers.
5. To move suddenly and forcefully in reaction to the main action (for example, when a firearm jerks backward when a bullet is fired, or when a table saw thrusts the workpiece in an unexpected direction).
   • You better watch yourself around that saw. That thing kicks back real hard occasionally, with no warning.
   • My revolver can handle .357 Magnum cartridges, but I use .38 Special, because I don't need it kicking back harder than a mule.

   Synonyms:

   recoil