kick against the pricks en · VERB
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Etymology
Biblical phrase; see citation below.
Meanings
- To kick back (of an animal etc.) against being goaded.
-
(figuratively) To struggle against fate or authority.
Paul was laid up with an attack of bronchitis. He did not mind much. What happened happened, and it was no good kicking against the pricks.
1913, D[avid] H[erbert] Lawrence, “The Young Life of Paul”, in Sons and Lovers, London: Duckworth & Co. […], →OCLC, part I, page 67:The whirlwind is in the thorn tree / It’s hard for thee to kick against the pricks
2002 November 5, Johnny Cash, “The Man Comes Around”, in American IV: The Man Comes Around (Compact Disc), performed by Johnny Cash, United States of America: American Recordings, →OCLC, 440 063 339-2:Near-synonym: kick over the traces
The lorde ſayd / I am Ieſus whom thou perſecuteſt / it ſhalbe harde for the to kycke agaĩſt the pricke.
1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, Acts ix:[5], folio clxvj, verso:Middle-class, indie-loving, media-savvy 18-40-year-olds in their tens of thousands joined Facebook groups, signed online petitions, added Twibbons, wrote letters of complaint and politely but efficiently kicked against the pricks.
2010 December 8, Dan Hancox, The Guardian:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| kicked against the pricks | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| kicked against the pricks | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| kicking against the pricks | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| kicks against the pricks | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic |
Synonyms
Translations (2)
de wider den Stachel löcken (to struggle against fate or authority) · ru арта́читься (to struggle against fate or authority)