Skip to learning
Practice

THE IDIOM COLLECTION LEARN & PRACTISE

Kick yourself

Understand the meaning. See it in context. Make it yours.

01 / UNDERSTAND

Meaning in plain English

To feel annoyed with yourself for a mistake or a missed opportunity.

02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT

The expression in a sentence

  1. I could kick myself for forgetting to attach the file.

03 / CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Quick idiom quiz

Try the question without looking back, then write a sentence of your own. You can retry as often as you like.

Can you recall the expression?

Which expression from this lesson matches this meaning?

To feel annoyed with yourself for a mistake or a missed opportunity.
Show the answer

Kick yourself — To feel annoyed with yourself for a mistake or a missed opportunity.

Try your own sentence (optional)

Make it yours

Write one sentence using “Kick yourself” about your own life.

Check your sentence

Does your sentence match this meaning?

To feel annoyed with yourself for a mistake or a missed opportunity.

Compare: I could kick myself for forgetting to attach the file.

Check the spelling and how the expression fits the sentence. Your example can be different.

Self-review only. Your sentence is not automatically marked, saved or submitted.

This quiz is for practice. To save lesson completion on this device, complete the checks in the app.

GO DEEPER

More ways to understand and use it

When to use it

Use it informally when regretting something you did or failed to do. It is a figurative expression of self-directed frustration.

More examples in context

  • She kicked herself for missing the early booking discount.
  • You will kick yourself if you leave without checking the opening times.

Usage note

Use for plus a noun or an -ing form to explain the regret. The expression does not mean physically hurting yourself.

A short conversation

A: Did you book the cheaper ticket yesterday?
B: No, and now I could kick myself. The price has increased.
A: Let us check the other departures.

One more practice question

Why might someone say “I could kick myself”?

A. They regret a mistake they made.
B. They are delighted with a perfect decision.

Check your answer

A. The expression shows annoyance at their own action or inaction.

Related lessons

Meaning and usage checked against Cambridge Dictionary. Explanations, examples and conversation are original.

Share this idiom