kick-off
/ˈkɪk.ɒf/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkɪk.ɑːf/ (ame, ipa)
kick-off — noun
1. the moment when a football match begins, with one player striking the ball from
the moment when a football match begins, with one player striking the ball from the centre circle to put it in play; also used after a goal or at the start of the second half.
Kick-off for the Manchester derby is at three in the afternoon.
kick-off at + clock time
Niran arrived at the stadium ten minutes before kick-off.
before/after kick-off
Heavy rain delayed the kick-off by almost half an hour.
The captain took the kick-off and passed the ball straight to Diya.
We have season tickets, so we never miss a single kick-off all year.
- start
general; not specific to football
- opening whistle
more vivid; the referee's signal rather than the kick itself
- final whistle
the end of the match, not the start
文法句型
kick-off at + time
the kick-off
用法筆記
Subject of 'is' when naming a clock time ('Kick-off is at 3 p.m.'); object of 'take' when meaning the literal kick. The American counterpart 'kickoff' is usually written as one word.
常見錯誤
2. an opening session, meeting, or event that formally begins a project, campaign,
an opening session, meeting, or event that formally begins a project, campaign, or organised activity outside of sport.
The marketing team scheduled a kick-off for the spring campaign on Monday morning.
kick-off for + project name
Lucía led the project kick-off and introduced each member of the design team.
lead/host a kick-off
Our charity walk has its kick-off in the central square at nine o'clock.
Hugo prepared a short slide deck for the kick-off meeting with the new client.
The festival's official kick-off included speeches, music, and a parade through town.
- launch
more formal; emphasises a public release
- inauguration
very formal; ceremonial opening of an institution or term
- start
neutral; lacks the sense of a marked opening event
文法句型
the kick-off for X
kick-off meeting/event
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 by context: sense 2 attaches to projects, campaigns, meetings, or events, never to a sports match. Frequently appears as 'kick-off meeting' or 'kick-off event' (compound noun).
常見錯誤
kick-off — phrasal verb
- kick-offbase form
- kick-offs3rd person singular
- kick-offing-ing form
- kick-offedpast simple
1. (of a football or soccer match) to begin, with one player striking the ball from
(of a football or soccer match) to begin, with one player striking the ball from the centre circle to put it in play.
The final between Brazil and France kicks off at eight tonight.
kicks off at + clock time
By the time Eitan reached his seat, the match had already kicked off.
past perfect: had kicked off
The schools league kicks off again every September after the long summer break.
Darius asked the bartender what time the rugby would kick off that evening.
- begin
general; lacks the football-specific image
- get under way
slightly more formal; works for any organised event
文法句型
the match/game kicks off
kick off at + time
用法筆記
Subject is the match, the game, or the competition itself — not a player. For a player's action use 'take the kick-off' (the noun).
常見錯誤
2. to begin an event, meeting, discussion, tour, or campaign — or to start it by do
to begin an event, meeting, discussion, tour, or campaign — or to start it by doing a particular opening action such as a speech or song.
Élise kicked off the meeting by thanking everyone for travelling so far.
kick off + event + by + -ing
The world tour kicks off in Berlin next March and ends in Sydney.
kicks off in + city
Soraya wants to kick off the discussion with a short video clip.
The campaign kicked off with a free concert in the town square.
Christopher kicked off the school year by introducing each new teacher to the class.
- launch
more formal; emphasises a public release
- open
general; neutral register
- inaugurate
very formal; for institutions, terms of office, ceremonies
文法句型
kick off + meeting/discussion/tour
X kicks off with Y
用法筆記
Object must be a planned event or activity (meeting, discussion, tour, campaign, season). Common in journalism and business English. Often followed by 'with + noun' or 'by + -ing' to name the opening action.
常見錯誤
3. to suddenly become very angry and shout, argue, or behave violently, often in a
to suddenly become very angry and shout, argue, or behave violently, often in a public place.
A passenger kicked off when the airline lost his luggage for the third time.
kick off when + clause
Diya warned the staff that her father might kick off if the food arrived cold.
Two fans kicked off in the car park after their team lost the cup final.
Lotte tried to stay calm, but eventually she kicked off about the unpaid wages.
- stay calm
general
- keep one's cool
informal
文法句型
someone kicks off
kick off about + noun
用法筆記
Mainly British and Australian English; uncommon in formal writing. Subject is a person, not an event. Distinguish from sense 2: there is no event object, and the tone is negative (loss of temper, not opening of a programme).
常見錯誤
4. to push or remove something from your feet, the ground, or a surface by kicking
to push or remove something from your feet, the ground, or a surface by kicking it, usually with a quick or careless movement.
Hui kicked off her shoes at the door and walked barefoot into the living room.
kick off + clothing on feet
The blanket fell off the bed after Esme kicked it off in her sleep.
kick + pronoun + off (separated)
Heloísa stretched out on the sofa and kicked off her slippers one at a time.
The toddler kept kicking the toy car off the table, laughing each time it crashed.
文法句型
kick off + something
kick something off
用法筆記
Separable: 'kick off her shoes' or 'kick her shoes off' are both fine, but a pronoun object must go in the middle ('kick them off', NOT 'kick off them'). Common objects: shoes, boots, sandals, blankets, sheets.