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Kick Back

Posted by R. Berg on September 22, 2005

In Reply to: Kick Back posted by Colin Burt on September 22, 2005

: In Australia there seems to be a relatively new usage of the term 'Kick Back', to mean to relax and be slothful. Used often in advertising e.g. 'Kick back and enjoy a Blogs' beer by the pool'. What would be the derivation of this? Not a bribe, not a retributive action.

The phrase has been current in the U.S. for some years. I don't know its exact derivation, but I'd guess it has a postural referent. In plainer English: it suggests someone collapsing backward onto a couch, his feet flying forward out from under him.

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