kick over the traces

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.83 in modern English

Syllables: kick- over the -traces
IPA

Scrabble Score

Letters

Syllables

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To rebel against authority; to defy orders or instructions.

British usage; Dated; Informal

verb

To live overextravagantly; to come to grief by fast living.

British usage; Dated; Informal

Example Sentences

"Near-synonym: kick against the pricks"
"1920, A. E. W. Mason, The Summons, XXX: A Revolution in Sir Chichester, "I remember that she once said to me, 'Women do get the worst of it when they kick over the traces,'" Hillyard resumed. "And undoubtedly they do. On the other hand you have McKerrel's hard-headed verdict, 'If these poor neurotic bodies had any work to do they wouldn't have so much time to worry about their troubles.' Who shall choose between them? And what does it matter now? Stella's gone. She will strain her poor little unhappy heart no more against the bars.""
"Near-synonyms: live large, live beyond one's means, live high on the hog"

Etymology

Refers to a horse kicking its legs over to the wrong side of the traces, straps of leather connecting it to the vehicle being towed.

Usage

British usage
Dated
Informal

Inflected Forms

kicks over the traces (present, singular) kicking over the traces (participle, present) kicked over the traces (participle, past) kicked over the traces (past)

Synonyms

kick against the pricks live large live beyond one's means live high on the hog