Dictionary

kick the beam en · VERB

Etymology

Referencing a loaded balance, whose lighter arm would rise up and strike the beam.

Meanings

1. (archaic, idiomatic) To lack in weight, importance, or strength compared to another.
   • Is the dollar only real? God and truth and right a dream? Weighed against your lying ledgers must our manhood kick the beam? 1846, John Greenleaf Whittier, The Pine-Tree (poem):
   • To-day she is at war; she has no surplus resources; all her energy is concentrated on herself, and will be until she is ready and equipped for battle. When that happens—when her vast potential energy has been converted into dynamic energy—she will step heavily into that scale of the balance recently vacated by Russia, and Prussian militarism will kick the beam. 1918 March 27, Ian Hay, “America At War”, in The Times:
   • The latter quick up flew, and kick'd the beam; / Which Gabriel spying, thus bespake the Fiend. 1667, John Milton, “Book IV”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 1004-1005:

Forms