kicking and screaming

English

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

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Phrase

kicking and screaming

1. Against someone's will; with extreme reluctance on someone's part.

   to drag someone kicking and screaming

   • 2000, Terry Pratchett, The Truth:

     Well, then…you can say that I said it is a step in the right direction that will…er…be welcomed by all forward-thinking people and will drag the city kicking and screaming into the Century of the Fruitbat.

Usage notes

Chiefly used with the verb drag.

Further reading

• “kicking and screaming” in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Longman.
• “kicking and screaming”, in Collins English Dictionary.
• “drag kicking and screaming”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.
• “drag someone kicking and screaming” (US) / “drag someone kicking and screaming” (UK) in Macmillan English Dictionary.