kick someone when they are down en · VERB
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Meanings
-
(idiomatic) To make things worse for someone who is going through a difficult time.
They would never kick someone when they are down or give themselves an unfair advantage by cheating or stealing. The implications of this type of behavior are huge.
2000, Richard Carlson, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff for Teens: Simple Ways to Keep Your Cool in Stressful Times, page 114:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| kicking someone when they are down | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| kicked someone when they were down | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| kicked someone when they were down | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| kicks someone when they are down | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| kick someone while they are down | alternative | lexicographic |
Relateds
put the boot in · beat a dead horse
Synonyms
strike someone when they are down · hit someone when they are down · kick a dog when it's down
Translations (7)
pl kopać leżącego (make things worse for someone) · cmn 落井下石 (make things worse for someone) · es hacer leña del árbol caído (make things worse for someone) · sv sparka på någon som ligger (make things worse for someone) · it pugnalare un uomo morto (make things worse for someone) · fi lyödä lyötyä (make things worse for someone) · fr frapper un ennemi à terre (make things worse for someone)