What Does โKick sth upโ Mean?
โKick sth upโ means to increase or intensify something, often suddenly or noticeably. It is commonly used to describe making something stronger, louder, or more active.
Introduction
The phrase โkick sth upโ is a useful phrasal verb in English that means to raise or increase something, such as noise, excitement, or effort. Understanding the โkick sth up meaningโ helps learners express changes in intensity or energy clearly. You can use it in different situations, from casual conversations to formal discussions. For example, you might say, โLetโs kick the music upโ when you want the volume louder. Itโs a flexible phrase that adds color and emphasis to your language.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: kick something up
- Type: Transitive
- Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
- Short meaning: to increase or intensify something
Structure (Grammar Rules)
โKick sth upโ is a separable phrasal verb. This means the object can come between โkickโ and โup,โ or after โup.โ
- kick + object + up (e.g., kick the volume up)
- kick + up + object (less common but possible, e.g., kick up a fuss)
Note: When the object is a pronoun, it must come between the verb and the particle. For example, โkick it up,โ not โkick up it.โ
How to Use โKick sth upโ?
Use โkick sth upโ when you want to describe making something stronger, bigger, or more intense. It is often used with things like noise, excitement, or effort. You can use it in both spoken and written English.
Examples include:
- Kick the heat up during cooking.
- Kick up the volume at a party.
- Kick up the energy in a meeting.
Examples
Here are some natural examples of โkick sth up in a sentenceโ to help you understand how it works.
- Can you kick the music up? I want to dance!
- The team decided to kick their effort up in the final minutes of the game.
- She kicked up a fuss when her order was wrong.
- Letโs kick the temperature up to make the sauce thicker.
- The crowd kicked up excitement as the band took the stage.
Common Mistakes
Many learners confuse the word order or misuse โkick sth upโ by placing the object incorrectly.
- Incorrect: Kick up it.
- Correct: Kick it up.
- Incorrect: Kick up the noise louder.
- Correct: Kick the noise up louder.
Remember to place the object directly after โkickโ if it is a pronoun.
Differences / Synonyms
โKick sth upโ is similar to phrases like โturn upโ or โraise.โ However, โkick upโ often implies a sudden or noticeable increase, sometimes with energy or emotion.
- Turn up: to increase volume or intensity, usually more neutral (e.g., turn up the music).
- Raise: to increase something, often formal (e.g., raise your hand).
- Kick up: to increase quickly or with energy (e.g., kick up a storm, kick up the excitement).
Common Collocations
Here are common objects used with โkick upโ and their meanings:
- Kick up dust: to cause dust to rise, often when moving fast.
- Kick up a fuss: to complain loudly or make a scene.
- Kick up the volume: to make sound louder.
- Kick up energy: to increase excitement or effort.
- Kick up heat: to increase temperature or intensity.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of kick sth up:
Real-life Dialogue
Hereโs a short conversation using โkick sth upโ:
Anna: The music is too soft. Can you kick it up a bit?
Ben: Sure! Iโll kick the volume up right now.
Anna: Great! This party needs more energy.
Practice
Try filling in the blanks with the correct form of โkick sth upโ:
- We need to ______ the heat ______ to cook the steak faster.
- She ______ a fuss when her coffee was cold.
- Can you ______ the music ______? I want to hear it better.
- The players decided to ______ their effort ______ in the second half.
FAQs
- Q: Is โkick sth upโ formal or informal?
A: It is mostly informal but can be used in various contexts.
- Q: Can I say โkick up the noiseโ?
A: Yes, it means to make the noise louder or more intense.
- Q: What is the difference between โkick upโ and โturn upโ?
โKick upโ often suggests a sudden or energetic increase, while โturn upโ is more neutral.
- Q: Can โkick upโ be used without an object?
Usually, it needs an object, but in some expressions like โkick up a storm,โ it can be used with a noun phrase.
- Q: Is โkick sth upโ separable?
Yes, the object can separate โkickโ and โupโ if it is a noun or pronoun.
