kickup
LowInformal, colloquial
Definition
Meaning
A sudden disturbance, argument, or fuss; also, a kicking or raising action.
Can refer to a physical action where something is kicked upwards (e.g., dust), or more commonly, a metaphorical commotion or noisy disagreement.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used as a countable noun. The meaning is often contextual: physical action vs. social disruption.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is similar, but the physical 'raising' sense (e.g., of dust) might be slightly more common in UK descriptions of weather/sports.
Connotations
Informal, slightly old-fashioned. Implies a sudden, often unnecessary, burst of activity or emotion.
Frequency
Rare in formal writing. Slightly more attested in UK English corpora, but overall low frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[noun] cause a kickup (over/about [object])[verb phrase] kick up a fuss/row/dustVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “kick up a fuss”
- “kick up a row”
- “kick up dust”
- “kick up one's heels”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. 'The merger caused a real kickup among the senior staff.'
Academic
Extremely rare; informal substitute for 'disturbance' or 'controversy' would be preferred.
Everyday
Most common. 'There was a bit of a kickup at the meeting about the new rules.'
Technical
In sports/mechanics, can describe the upward motion of a ball or part.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Not standard as a single word verb. Use phrasal verb 'kick up'.
American English
- Not standard as a single word verb. Use phrasal verb 'kick up'.
adverb
British English
- Not used as an adverb.
American English
- Not used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- Not used as an adjective.
American English
- Not used as an adjective.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The children caused a real kickup when they were told to turn off the TV.
- The strong wind created a kickup of sand on the beach.
- There's no need to kick up such a fuss over a minor scheduling change.
- The goalkeeper's mistake led to a nasty kickup between the players.
- The editorial policy sparked a significant political kickup, drawing commentary from across the spectrum.
- He deliberately kicked up dust to obscure the path behind him.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine someone KICKing a ball UP into the air, causing a noisy FUSS among the players.
Conceptual Metaphor
ARGUMENT/COMMOTION IS A PHYSICAL UPWARD FORCE (kicking up).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation as 'пинок вверх'. For the 'fuss' meaning, use 'ссора', 'шум', 'переполох'. The phrasal verb 'to kick up (a fuss)' is 'поднимать шум/возмущаться'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'kickup' as a verb (incorrect: 'He kickuped a fuss'; correct: 'He kicked up a fuss').
- Confusing it with the noun 'kick-off'.
Practice
Quiz
In the sentence 'The scandal caused a major kickup in the press,' what is the closest meaning of 'kickup'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is informal and colloquial. In formal writing, use words like 'disturbance', 'controversy', or 'commotion'.
No. The verb form is the phrasal verb 'to kick up', as in 'to kick up a fuss'. 'Kickup' itself is primarily a noun.
A 'kickup' is a fuss or disturbance. A 'kick-off' is the start of a football match or, metaphorically, the start of any event or project.
It is understood but not very common. The phrasal verb pattern ('kick up a stink/fuss') is more frequently used than the noun 'kickup' on its own.