kick against the pricks
verb
Roget 719:
resist;
not submit
etc.
725;
repugn†,
reluct,
reluctate†,
withstand;
stand up against,
strive against,
bear up under,
bear up against,
be proof against,
make head against;
stand,
stand firm,
stand one's ground,
stand the brunt of,
stand out;
hold one's grounds,
hold one's own,
hold out,
hold firm.
breast the wave,
breast the current;
stem the tide,
stem the torrent;
face,
confront,
grapple with;
show a bold front
etc.
(courage)
861;
present a front;
make a stand,
take one's stand.
kick,
kick against;
recalcitrate†,
kick against the pricks;
oppose
etc.
708;
fly in the face of;
lift the hand against
etc.
(attack)
716;
rise up in arms
etc.
(war)
722;
strike,
turn out;
draw up a round robin
etc.
(remonstrate)
932;
revolt
etc.
(disobey)
742;
make a riot.
prendre le mors aux dents [Fr.],
take the bit between the teeth;
sell one's life dearly,
die hard,
keep at bay;
repel,
repulse.
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Roget 863:
be rash
etc.
adj.;
stick at nothing,
play a desperate game;
run into danger
etc.
665;
play with fire,
play with edge tools.
carry too much sail,
sail too near the wind,
ride at single anchor,
go out of one's depth.
take a leap in the dark,
buy a pig in a poke.
donner tete baissee [Fr.];
knock,
one's bead against a wall
etc.
(be unskillful)
699;
rush on destruction;
kick against the pricks,
tempt Providence,
go on a forlorn hope,
go on a fool's errand.
reckon one's chickens before they are reckon one's chickens before they are hatched,
count one's chickens before they are hatched,
reckon without one's host;
catch at straws;
trust to a broken reed,
lean on a broken reed.
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Roget 645:
be useless
etc.
adj.;
go a begging
etc.
(redundant)
641;
fail
etc.
732.
seek after impossibilities,
strive after impossibilities;
use vain efforts,
labor in vain,
roll the stone of Sisyphus,
beat the air,
lash the waves,
battre l'eau avec un baton [Fr.],
donner un coup d'epee dans l'eau [Fr.],
fish in the air,
milk the ram,
drop a bucket into an empty well,
sow the sand;
bay the moon;
preach to the winds,
speak to the winds;
whistle jigs to a milestone;
kick against the pricks,
se battre contre des moulins [Fr.];
lock the stable door when the steed is stolen,
lock the barn door after the horse is stolen
etc.
(too late)
135;
hold a farthing candle to the sun;
cast pearls before swine
etc.
(waste)
638;
carry coals to Newcastle
etc.
(redundancy)
641;
wash a blackamoor white
etc.
(impossible)
471.
render useless
etc.
adj.;
dismantle,
dismast,
dismount,
disqualify,
disable;
unrig;
cripple,
lame
etc.
(injure)
659;
spike guns,
clip the wings;
put out of gear.
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Roget 708:
oppose,
counteract,
run counter to;
withstand
etc.
(resist)
719;
control
etc.
(restrain)
751;
hinder
etc.
706;
antagonize,
oppugn,
fly in the face of,
go dead against,
kick against,
fall afoul of,
run afoul of;
set against,
pit against;
face,
confront,
cope with;
make a stand,
make a dead set against;
set oneself against,
set one's face against;
protest against,
vote against,
raise one's voice against;
disfavor,
turn one's back upon;
set at naught,
slap in the face,
slam the door in one's face.
be at cross purposes;
play at cross purposes;
counterwork†,
countermine;
thwart,
overthwart†;
work against,
undermine.
stem,
breast,
encounter;
stem the tide,
breast the tide,
stem the current,
stem the flood;
buffet the waves;
beat up against,
make head against;
grapple with;
kick against the pricks
etc.
(resist)
719;
contend
etc.
720;
do battle with
etc.
(warfare)
722,
do battle against.
contradict,
contravene;
belie;
go against,
run against,
beat against,
militate against;
come in conflict with.
emulate
etc.
(compete)
720;
rival,
spoil one's trade.
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