Describing Simple Actions Around The House
A2 English listening practice · British English · Curated for beginners
What does “kick up your feet” mean in American English?
“To kick up your feet” doesn’t mean lifting them in the air. It’s a cosy American idiom for putting them up on a footstool or recliner to relax. When the speaker says “I’m kicking up my feet,” she’s signalling the workday is done.
It’s worth distinguishing from two close cousins. “To put your feet up” is similar but slightly more British. “To kick back” means to relax in general, no feet required, just an attitude. All three sit in casual everyday speech; you wouldn’t write them in a business email but they’re constant in spoken English.
Vocabulary frequency
How common is the vocabulary in this A2 English listening practice listening practice?
General English frequency
Spoken English frequency
Words above this video’s level
Quick glosses for vocabulary that goes beyond this video’s A2 level.
Source: wordfreq 3.1.1 (general) · SUBTLEX-US 2012 (spoken). Buckets approximate; exact ranks not stored.
- ▸In any American sitcom or family drama after the work-day-ends scene
- ▸In commercials for recliner chairs, beer, weekend getaways
- ▸In country music lyrics about the end of a long day
- ▸In casual “how was your day?” conversation in American English
- ▸In retirement and lifestyle content (“finally able to kick up my feet”)