Why is speeding up at end of race called "a kick"?

It is derived from the Amish word "Raessle" meaning wrestle/

Why is any particular word used to define something?

That's brilliant! Thanks!

In ancient times before all weather tracks when races were held on the dusty roads leading out of town, the runner who sprinted at the end and "kicked" up the dust was the winner. That evolved to merely having a "kick" even though nothing is being "kicked up" anymore.

Because you're kicking the competition's sorry butts.

No, it's really what the previous poster said.

Why is someone that asks stupid questions called a moron?

Hope this helps:

kick (kk)

v. kicked, kick·ing, kicks

v.intr.

1. To strike out with the foot or feet.

2. Sports

a. To score or gain ground by kicking a ball.

b. To punt in football.

c. To propel the body in swimming by moving the legs, as with a flutter kick or frog kick.

3. To recoil: The powerful rifle kicked upon being fired.

4. Informal

a. To express negative feelings vigorously; complain.

b. To oppose by argument; protest.

v.tr.

1. To strike with the foot.

2. To propel by striking with the foot.

3. To spring back against suddenly: The rifle kicked my shoulder when I fired it.

4. Sports To score (a goal or point) by kicking a ball.

n.

1.

a. A vigorous blow with the foot.

b. Sports The motion of the legs that propels the body in swimming.

2. A jolting recoil: a rifle with a heavy kick.

3. Slang A complaint; a protest.

4. Slang Power; force: a car engine with a lot of kick.

5. Slang

a. A feeling of pleasurable stimulation: got a kick out of the show.

b. kicks Fun: went bowling just for kicks.

6. Slang Temporary, often obsessive interest: I'm on a science fiction kick.

7. Slang A sudden, striking surprise; a twist.

8. Sports

a. The act or an instance of kicking a ball.

b. A kicked ball.

c. The distance spanned by a kicked ball.

Phrasal Verbs:

kick about

To move from place to place.

kick around Informal

1. To treat badly; abuse.

2. To move from place to place: "spent the next three years in Italy, kicking around the country on a motor scooter" (Charles E. Claffey).

3. To give thought or consideration to; ponder or discuss.

kick back

1. To recoil unexpectedly and violently.

2. Informal To take it easy; relax: kicked back at home and watched TV.

3. Slang To return (stolen items).

4. Slang To pay a kickback.

kick in

1. Informal To contribute (one's share): kicked in a few dollars for the office party.

2. Informal To become operative or take effect: "His pituitary kicked in, and his growth was suddenly vertical" (Kenneth Browser).

3. Slang To die.

kick off

1. Sports To begin or resume play with a kickoff.

2. Informal To begin; start: kicked off the promotional tour with a press conference.

3. Slang To die.

kick out Slang

To throw out; dismiss.

kick over

To begin to fire: The engine finally kicked over.

kick up Informal

1. To increase in amount or force; intensify: A sandstorm kicked up while we drove through the desert.

2. To stir up (trouble): kicked up a row.

3. To show signs of disorder: His ulcer has kicked up again.

Idioms:

kick ass/butt Vulgar Slang

To take forceful or harsh measures to achieve an objective.

kick the bucket Slang

To die.

kick the habit Slang

To free oneself of an addiction, as to narcotics or cigarettes.

kick up (one's) heels Informal

To cast off one's inhibitions and have a good time.

kick upstairs Slang

To promote to a higher yet less desirable position.

It is a reference to the movie 'Karate Kid', where a fight is finished, and won, with a kick

The Prince wrote:

a whole lot of stupidity

Hope this helps:

Why are you a moron? The OP's question was a perfectly good one.

The word is used in a lot of metaphorical ways to refer to something that has an abrupt and powerful effect. A strong drink has "a kick to it." A rifle "kicks" forcefully back at you when you fire it. The situation can even be non-physical: an unexpected and impressive end to a story can be called "the kicker." A quick shift to a faster, more energetic kind of running is another parallel.

Well done, UCI XC.

Cole Porter knew about kicks. He graduated from Yale 100 years ago.

I get no kick from Champagne

Mere alchohol doesn't thrill me at all

so tell me why should it be true

that I get a kick

out of you

Some get a kick from cocaine

I'm sure that if I took even one sniff

that would bore me terrificly too

yet I get a kick out of you....

The cocaine reference got this banned from radio.

Cole Porter's "Love For Sale" was even more shocking to bourgeois tastes.

When the only sound on the empty street

is the heavy tread of the heavy feet

that belong to a lonesome cop

I open shop

The moon so long has been gazing down

on the wayward ways of this wayward town

my smile becomes a smirk, I go to work

Love for sale

appetizing young love for sale

love that's fresh and still unspoiled

love that's only slightly soiled

love for sale....

Maude Maggart has a rendition of this Cole Porter classic that is unforgettable.

It's for the same reason that a kick is also called "dropping the hammer". Just like "dropping the hammer" involves dropping the real hammer you've been carrying, getting lighter, and running faster, "kicking" refers to kicking your competitor in the face with your vigorous leg carriage.

Extra points if you can drop (or throw) the hammer at your opponent.

It comes from harrier racing in England/Ireland. The races would start in the town square, head out into the woods and return to the town for the finish. Locals would line the streets and try to push their favority runners to the finish by kicking them in the backside.

kick into high gear is too long.

WakeuplilSuzy wrote:

Why is any particular word used to define something?

Exactly. Why is running called running? Why is a tree called a tree?

I always thought that "dropping the hammer" meant like crushing them bc youre dropping the hammer on them and crushing them. because it is in other sports like mma

big loser no contest wrote:

Exactly. Why is running called running? Why is a tree called a tree?

Yet these are legitimate questions. Ever heard of linguistics?

Because 'punch' doesn't seem right.

kinda like how people say hot sauce has a "kick" to it maybe. like a jolt