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Kick the Tires

What Does "Kick the Tires" Mean?

homeidiomsKick the Tires
"Kick the tires" is an English idiom. It means "a north American variant of 'kick some tires', meaning to inspect or test something before buying."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "kick the tires" used in a sentence:
  • He went to kick the tires of that new model car.
  • They're just here to kick the tires; they're not serious buyers.
  • I always kick the tires thoroughly before any major purchase.
meaning for kick the tires

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Kick the Tires" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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