Meaning trap
kick off
start a conflict
to suddenly begin an argument, fight, or trouble, often in a lively or disruptive way.
Don't mix these meanings
Same phrase, different job.
to suddenly begin an argument, fight, or trouble, often in a lively or disruptive way.
'kick off' also has the more basic meaning 'to begin an event or activity'; this is the advanced sense.
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
Things really kicked off when the two teams started arguing with the referee.
If the government fails to address the issue, protests could easily kick off across the country, leading to widespread unrest.
Fix the pattern
One small grammar move makes it sound right.
Not: They started to kick off the argument.
Say: They kicked off at each other. / It kicked off between them.
This sense is intransitive ('it kicked off') or 'kick off AT someone'. Don't use it transitively for 'start the argument'.
Which sounds natural?
Tap the one a native speaker would say.
'Kick off' (BrE slang) vividly means a fight or trouble suddenly broke out. The formal version is a news report.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
kick off
- it all kicked off
- at each other
- outside
- big time
Don't confuse it
Related
Other meanings and phrases to compare.
- kick off (to begin an event or activity) — 'kick off' also has the more basic meaning 'to begin an event or activity'; this is the advanced sense.