- To formally start an event, meeting, process, or discussion.
Explanation
Origin
- Likely originates from sports, specifically the kick-off that starts a game of football (soccer) or American football.
- Metaphorically means to initiate any kind of event or process.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Get the ball rolling
- Fire it up
- Let's do this thing
Vulgar/Emphatic:
- Let's get this fucking show on the road
Milder/Formal:
- Let us begin
- We will commence with...
- To start proceedings...
Situational Appropriateness
- Informal to Formal.
- Very common and acceptable in business meetings, conferences, events, and even informal gatherings.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Unlikely to be misunderstood, especially when used in the context of starting events or meetings.
Examples
- The CEO will kick off the conference with a keynote speech.
- Let's kick off this meeting by reviewing the agenda.
- They kicked off their fundraising campaign with a gala dinner.
Dialogue
Context
Organizer: Okay everyone, settle down, please! Our director, Ms. Evans, is here to kick off the workshop.
Ms. Evans: Thank you, James. Good morning, everyone. I'm delighted to kick things off today by talking about our vision for the next quarter...
(Audience listens)
Social Media Examples
- Tweet: Excited to kick off our annual developer conference tomorrow! Opening keynote at 9 AM sharp. #TechConf2024 #kickoff
- Event Announcement: Join us as we kick off the summer reading challenge with an author visit this Saturday! #library #reading #event
- Instagram Live Intro: Hey everyone, thanks for joining! Let's kick this live session off with some Q&A. Ask me anything! #live #kickoff
Response Patterns
- (If invited to kick something off) Okay, great. / Happy to.
- (As an attendee) Silence, attentiveness.
- Sounds good.
- Alright, let's begin.
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
- The action that kicks off the event immediately follows (e.g., the speech starts, the first agenda item is addressed).
- Someone might ask Who is kicking things off? beforehand.
Conversation Starter
- Yes, in the context of starting a planned event or meeting. (Shall we kick off?)
Intonation
- Stress on kick and off.
- Often said with energy and a sense of beginning. KICK off the meeting.
Generation Differences
- Widely used across generations.
Regional Variations
- Universal in English-speaking countries.