kick up the arse
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
A severe reprimand, especially one to motivate someone into doing something.
Register: slang, vulgar
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “kick up the arse” mean?
A severe reprimand, especially one to motivate someone into doing something.
Is “kick up the arse” formal or informal?
kick up the arse is generally slang, vulgar.