A child ready to kick the ball
A kick is a blow applied with the toe of one foot . It may be a physical attack or an action carried out to move a ball .
a direct attack
Suppose someone kicks another person, impacting the tip of their foot against some part of their victim's body. In that case, it can be said that the attacker kicked the victim.
Kicks are frequent in soccer , since in this sport the legs are mainly used. The kick can be a deliberate hit (when the goal is to interrupt the progress of an opponent, for example) or an involuntary one (if a player tries to kick the ball and, unintentionally, hits the opponent).
It is important to keep in mind that this term is used especially within the field of journalism, since in everyday speech the word kick is much more common. This applies even in conversations about sports , since for reasons of language convention there are certain words and expressions that are considered "too formal" outside of technical environments and literature.
This does not mean that in conversations between friends it is "forbidden" to use the word kick . Depending on the level of education and preferences of each group, language can be used in thousands of different ways. If we surround ourselves with people who appreciate technicalities , we probably won't encounter any resistance; In the opposite case, on the other hand, there would be no shortage of ridicule. In any case, it is up to each person to speak as they prefer and endure other people's reactions.
Kickoff
Precisely in soccer, the kick is usually used to impact the ball . The term is also used symbolically to refer to the play that allows the game to start : the kickoff. This expression is used even when the footballer has not hit the ball with the toe of his foot.
Kick is also used with reference to any beginning or start : “I believe that this meeting is the initial kick of a fruitful journey for both parties,” “The kickoff of the ruling party's electoral campaign will be an event that will take place next Monday at the capital” , “We hope that this match will be the kickoff of a positive streak for our team” .
As with other expressions , this is used as part of everyday speech by millions of Spanish-speaking people, even those who have no interest in soccer or other sports. That is to say, just because someone says "this is the kickoff" does not mean that they are using this analogy because they spend a large part of the day thinking about sports, but that they simply have this way of expressing their idea at hand thanks to its popularity.
The "kick-off" is the beginning, the first step towards a goal.
Other expressions
Beyond kickoff , the dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy recognizes two other expressions that include this term, although they are not as used or known. The first is kicking , and it means inconsiderate, violent or very bad. The second includes the first, although its meaning is different: it is about kicking someone around , and it is a way of treating someone aimed at using them to satisfy one's own interests at their expense, without any effort.
An Ecuadorian story
“A man kicked to death” , on the other hand, is the title of a story by Pablo Palacio . The Ecuadorian author published this police story first in 1926 in a magazine called Hélice , and a year later as part of a book of the same name. Not only is it the first literary work in his country to openly deal with homosexuality, but it is one of his most important works.