Kick vs. Shank — What's the Difference?

A kick is a physical strike using the leg, in unison usually with an area of the knee or lower using the foot, heel, tibia (shin), ball of the foot, blade of the foot, toes or knee (the latter is also known as a knee strike). This type of attack is used frequently by hooved animals as well as humans in the context of stand-up fighting.

A person's leg, especially the part from the knee to the ankle

Strike or propel forcibly with the foot

A long, narrow part of a tool connecting the handle to the operational end

Succeed in giving up (a habit or addiction)

A part or appendage by which something is attached to something else, especially a wire loop attached to the back of a button.

(of a gun) recoil when fired

The narrow middle of the sole of a shoe

A blow or forceful thrust with the foot

A makeshift knife fashioned from a sharp item such as broken glass or a razor

A sudden forceful jolt

An act of striking the ball with the heel of the club

The sharp stimulant effect of alcohol or a drug

Strike (the ball) with the heel of the club

Soft sports shoes; trainers

Slash or stab (someone), especially with a makeshift knife

An indentation in the bottom of a glass bottle, diminishing the internal capacity.

The part of the human leg between the knee and ankle.

To extend the leg away from the body; strike out with the foot or feet.

A corresponding part in other vertebrates.

To score or gain ground by kicking a ball.

The whole leg of a human.

To punt in football.

A leg or leglike part.

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

A cut of meat from the leg of a steer, calf, sheep, or lamb.

To recoil

The long narrow part of a nail or pin.

To express negative feelings vigorously; complain.

A stem, stalk, or similar part.

To oppose by argument; protest.

(Nautical) The stem of an anchor.

To strike with the foot

The long shaft of a fishhook.

To propel by striking with the foot

The part of a tobacco pipe between the bowl and stem.

To spring back against suddenly

The shaft of a key.

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

The narrow section of the handle of a spoon.

A vigorous blow with the foot.

(Printing) The section of a body of type between the shoulder and the foot.

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

The narrow part of the sole of a shoe under the instep.

Any of various moves in dance in which the leg is extended from the body.

A piece of material, such as metal, that is used to reinforce or shape this part of a shoe.

A jolting recoil

A projection, such as a ring, on the back of a button by which it is sewn to cloth.

(Slang) A complaint; a protest.

See tang1.

(Slang) Power; force

The part of a tool, such as a drill, that connects the functioning head to the handle.

A feeling of pleasurable stimulation

The latter or remaining part, especially of a period of time.

Kicks Fun

The early or primary part of a period of time

(Slang) Temporary, often obsessive interest

(Slang) A knife or other sharp, pointed implement, especially one that has been fashioned from something else; a shiv.

(Slang) A sudden, striking surprise; a twist.

To hit (a golf ball) with the heel of the club, causing the ball to veer in the wrong direction.

Kicks(Slang) Shoes.

(Slang) To stab (a person) with a sharp, pointed implement.

The act or an instance of kicking a ball.

The part of the leg between the knee and the ankle.

A kicked ball.

Meat from that part of an animal.

The distance spanned by a kicked ball.

A redshank or greenshank, various species of Old World wading birds in the genus Tringa having distinctly colored legs.

(transitive) To strike or hit with the foot or other extremity of the leg.

A straight, narrow part of an object, such as a key or an anchor; shaft; stem.

(intransitive) To make a sharp jerking movement of the leg, as to strike something.

The handle of a pair of shears, connecting the ride to the neck.

(transitive) To direct to a particular place by a blow with the foot or leg.

The center part of a fishhook between the eye and the hook, the 'hook' being the curved part that bends toward the point.

(with "off" or "out") To eject summarily.

A protruding part of an object, by which it is or can be attached.

To forcibly remove a participant from an online activity.

The metal part on a curb bit that falls below the mouthpiece, which length controls the severity of the leverage action of the bit, and to which the reins of the bridle are attached.

To overcome (a bothersome or difficult issue or obstacle); to free oneself of (a problem).

(golf) A poorly played golf shot in which the ball is struck by the part of the club head that connects to the shaft.

To move or push suddenly and violently.

(slang) An improvised stabbing weapon.

(of a firearm) To recoil; to push by recoiling.

A loop forming an eye to a button.

To attack (a piece) in order to force it to move.

(architecture) The space between two channels of the Doric triglyph.

To accelerate quickly with a few pedal strokes in an effort to break away from other riders.

(metalworking) A large ladle for molten metal, fitted with long bars for handling it.

(intransitive) To show opposition or resistance.

The body of a type; between the shoulder and the foot.

To work a press by impact of the foot on a treadle.

(shoemaking) The part of the sole beneath the instep connecting the broader front part with the heel.

To reset (a watchdog timer).

Flat-nosed pliers, used by opticians for nipping off the edges of pieces of glass to make them round.

To reproach oneself for making a mistake or missing an opportunity.

The end or remainder, particularly of a period of time.

(intransitive) To die.

The main part or beginning of a period of time.

To be emphatically excellent.

To travel on foot.

A hit or strike with the leg, foot or knee.

(slang) To stab, especially with an improvised blade.

The action of swinging a foot or leg.

(slang) To remove another's trousers, especially in jest; to depants.

(colloquial) Something that tickles the fancy; something fun or amusing.

To misstrike the ball with the part of the club head that connects to the shaft.

(Internet) The removal of a person from an online activity.

To hit or kick the ball in an unintended direction.

(figuratively) Any bucking motion of an object that lacks legs or feet.

(intransitive) To fall off, as a leaf, flower, or capsule, on account of disease affecting the supporting footstalk; usually followed by off.

Piquancy.

To provide (a button) with a shank loop forming an eye.

A stimulation provided by an intoxicating substance.

(shoemaking) To apply the shank to a shoe, during the process of manufacturing it.

(soccer) A pass played by kicking with the foot.

(slang) Bad.

(soccer) The distance traveled by kicking the ball.

See Chank.

The recoil of a gun.

The part of the leg from the knee to the foot; the shin; the shin bone; also, the whole leg.

(informal) A pocket.

Hence, that part of an instrument, tool, or other thing, which connects the acting part with a handle or other part, by which it is held or moved.

An increase in speed in the final part of a running race.

The space between two channels of the Doric triglyph.

Synonym of kicker

A large ladle for molten metal, fitted with long bars for handling it.

To strike, thrust, or hit violently with the foot; as, a horse kicks a groom; a man kicks a dog.

The body of a type.

To evict or remove from a place or position, usually with out or off; as, they kicked him off the staff; he was kicked out of the restaurant; the landlord kicked them out of the apartment for making too much noise.

The part of the sole beneath the instep connecting the broader front part with the heel.

To score (goals or points) by kicking; as, they kicked three field goals in the game.

A wading bird with long legs; as, the green-legged shank, or knot; the yellow shank, or tattler; - called also shanks.

To discontinue; - usually used of habitual activities; as, to kick a habit; he kicked his drug habit.

Flat-nosed pliers, used by opticians for nipping off the edges of pieces of glass to make them round.

To thrust out the foot or feet with violence; to strike out with the foot or feet, as in defense or in bad temper; esp., to strike backward, as a horse does, or to have a habit of doing so.

To fall off, as a leaf, flower, or capsule, on account of disease affecting the supporting footstalk; - usually followed by off.

To recoil; - said of a musket, cannon, etc.; also called kick back.

A cut of meat (beef or veal or mutton or lamb) from the upper part of the leg

To make a kick as an offensive play.

The part of the human leg between the knee and the ankle

To complain strenuously; to object vigorously.

Cylinder forming a long narrow part of something

To resist.

Cylinder forming the part of a bolt between the thread and the head

A blow with the foot or feet; a striking or thrust with the foot.

Cylinder forming the part of a bit by which it is held in the drill

The projection on the tang of the blade of a pocket knife, which prevents the edge of the blade from striking the spring. See Illust. of Pocketknife.

The narrow part of the shoe connecting the heel and the wide part of the sole

A projection in a mold, to form a depression in the surface of the brick.

Lower part of the leg extending from the hock to the fetlock in hoofed mammals

The recoil of a musket or other firearm, when discharged.

A poor golf stroke in which the heel of the club hits the ball

A surge of pleasure; a thrill; - usually used in the phrase get a kick out of; as, I always get a kick out of watching an ice skater do a quadruple jump.

Hit (a golf ball) with the heel of a club, causing the ball to veer in the wrong direction

The act of delivering a blow with the foot;

The swift release of a store of affective force;

The backward jerk of a gun when it is fired

Informal terms for objecting;

The sudden stimulation provided by strong drink (or certain drugs);

A rhythmic thrusting movement of the legs as in swimming or calisthenics;

Drive or propel with the foot

Thrash about or strike out with the feet

Strike with the foot;

Kick a leg up

Spring back, as from a forceful thrust;

Stop consuming;

Make a goal;

Express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness;