Kick the habit

Meaning

Kick the habit is an idiomatic expression used to describe someone who wants to quit or give up a particular behavior, habit, or addiction. The phrase suggests that they want to break free from their dependency and move on to better things.

Usage

• I know you're trying to kick the smoking habit, but it's hard to resist the cravings sometimes.

• This sentence implies that someone is trying to quit smoking but finds it challenging due to their strong desire for cigarettes.

• It's time for me to kick the habit of eating junk food all day long.

• Here, the speaker suggests that they want to stop consuming unhealthy foods and make healthier choices instead.

• My friend is determined to kick the drinking habit after realizing its negative effects on their life.

• This sentence shows that someone wants to quit alcohol consumption after recognizing its adverse consequences on their well-being.

• I can't wait to kick the habit of procrastinating and start being more productive.

• Here, the speaker expresses their desire to stop putting things off until the last minute and become more efficient with their work.

• He struggled to kick the habit of biting his nails, but eventually managed to overcome it.

• This sentence indicates that someone had a difficult time breaking the habit of biting their nails but ultimately succeeded in doing so.

Roots and History

The idiom "kick the habit" originated in the United States during the early 20th century. It was first used in popular culture by jazz musician Louis Armstrong, who famously said, "I'm gonna kick the habit of smoking and drinking." This statement marked a significant shift in his lifestyle and inspired many others to follow suit. Over time, the phrase has evolved to include various behaviors and habits beyond just smoking and drinking. It is now commonly used to encourage people to overcome any obstacle or challenge that they face, whether it's related to health, work, relationships, or personal growth.

Synonyms in English

• Give up on
• Quit
• Abandon
• Let go of
• Break free from

Synonyms in other languages

• Spanish - dejar de This phrase literally means "to stop" or "to cease." It can be used to express the desire to end a particular behavior, habit, or addiction.
• French - arrêter d'accepter This idiom translates to "to stop accepting." It suggests that someone wants to break free from a situation or circumstance and make a change in their life.
• German - aufhören zu tun This phrase means "to stop doing" and can be used to convey the intention of leaving behind a specific behavior or habit.
• Italian - smettere di fare Similar to English, this idiom translates to "to stop doing." It is used to describe the intention to abandon a particular activity or practice.
• Chinese - 放弃 This phrase means "to give up" and can be applied to various aspects of life, such as smoking, gambling, or unhealthy eating habits. It emphasizes the determination to overcome an obstacle and start living a healthier, more fulfilling life.

Similar Idioms

• the calm before the storm

• bitter medicine

• blind spot