Phrase guide

kick someone when they are down

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To make things worse for someone who is going through a difficult time.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 落井下石 (luòjǐngxiàshí) — make things worse for someone
  • Finnish: lyödä lyötyä — make things worse for someone
  • French: frapper un ennemi à terre — make things worse for someone
  • Italian: pugnalare un uomo morto — make things worse for someone
  • Polish: kopać leżącego — make things worse for someone
  • Spanish: hacer leña del árbol caído — make things worse for someone
  • Swedish: sparka på någon som ligger — make things worse for someone