–Kick off | Image by jcomp on Freepik
Context
New ScientistYou may have relied on a coin toss to make your mind up. Flipping a coin traditionally decides who kicks off a football game. Half the time it lands heads-up, and half the time it lands tails-up. With a 50/50 chance of landing on either side it’s a quick, easy and fair way to make a decision. However, a new study confirms what scientists have long suspected — when someone tosses a coin, the odds of getting heads or tails aren't actually equal.
Explanations and Usages
“Kick off” is a phrase commonly used to describe the start or beginning of something. It originates from the game of football (soccer), where the match begins with a player kicking the ball from the center of the field. In a broader context, it means to initiate or start an event, project, or activity.
For example, in sports, “kick off” refers to the start of a game or match. In business, it might describe the commencement of a project or a meeting. Similarly, in social settings, it signifies the beginning of an event or gathering.
The phrase can also be used metaphorically. For instance, you might “kick off” a discussion by introducing a topic or “kick off” a presentation by starting with an attention-grabbing opening.
Overall, “kick off” is a versatile phrase that conveys the idea of starting something, whether it’s a literal event like a game or a more abstract concept like a conversation or project.
Examples
- Mr. Johnson will kick off the science forum with an inspiring opening speech.
- Tomorrow, during the assembly, Principal Rodriguez plans to kick off the school’s literacy campaign by introducing the reading challenge and encouraging students to participate actively in fostering a culture of reading across all grades.
–Education
- Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell’s testimony on Friday kicked off a consequential stretch for the markets.
- In early May, the collapse of First Republic marked the third bank failure within a few weeks, kicking off a tumultuous period that began with the sudden downfall of Silicon Valley Bank in March.
–Business
- Disney kicked off its Star Wars Celebration event with the first look at Andor.
Tesla is often attributed with helping kick off the race to electrification, and Elon Musk’s company certainly deserves credit for propelling the rest of the auto industry in that direction.
–Technology
- Last month, the United States and the European Union joined forces to kick off a collaborative effort involving two dozen nations, aiming to cut methane emissions by 30% over the next decade.
In understanding the origin of high-energy particles termed cosmic rays, the potential contribution of Milky Way neutrinos becomes pivotal, as they kick off the generation of these neutrinos, aiding scientists in their research.
–Science
- Trevor Noah kicked off a week of “The Daily Show” in Atlanta on Monday night.
- The festivities at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles for the 95th annual Oscars kicked off with the excitement building up on the red carpet before the event officially began.
–Arts and Culture
