kick like a mule

verb

To have a very strong physical effect.

“This Russian drink tastes foul, but it kicks like a mule.”

Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

verbkick like a mule (third-person singular simple present kicks like a mule, present participle kicking like a mule, simple past and past participle kicked like a mule)

present singular third person kicks like a mule · participle present kicking like a mule · participle past kicked like a mule · past kicked like a mule

  1. informalsimileTo have a very strong physical effect.

    This Russian drink tastes foul, but it kicks like a mule.

    1 more example

    Now Lucy looks sweet cause he dresses like a queen But he can kick like a mule, it's a real mean team

    1972, David Bowie, “All the Young Dudes”, performed by Mott the Hoople
Cite this entry
APA

kick like a mule. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kick%20like%20a%20mule

MLA

“kick like a mule.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kick%20like%20a%20mule. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “kick like a mule,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kick%20like%20a%20mule.

Source: kick like a mule on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.