1. 词汇：kick around

释义1：To informally discuss something, typically a plan or idea. （非正式地讨论，非正式地考虑）

例句：We've been kicking around the possibility of moving to Portland, but it's still just an idea.

我们一直在考虑搬到波特兰的可能性，但这只是一个想法。

I want to call a meeting where we can all kick around ideas without any limitations, and see what we can come up with.

我想召集一个会议，在那里我们可以毫无限制地讨论各种想法，看看我们能想出什么来。

Fred and Bob kicked around some plots for a new movie.

弗雷德和鲍勃讨论了一部新电影的情节。

Let's meet before next week's meeting, Jane. I want to kick around some ideas with you.

咱们下周开会前先见一面，简，我有些想法想和你交流一下。

释义2：To treat someone or something badly. （粗暴地对待，恶劣地对待）

例句：I finally quit my job. My boss wouldn't stop kicking me around.

我终于辞职了，我的老板对我很粗暴。

Stop kicking my car around. It does everything I need a car to do.

别乱动我的车，它可以做我需要一辆车做的所有事情。

He always kicked his sons around and they left home for good.

他从不善待儿子们，儿子们离开家再也不回来了。

2 词汇：kick upstairs

释义：To promote one to a position that is higher but undesirable or that has little actual responsibility or authority. （提升到较高但又不是理想的职位，使明升暗降，以升官爵为名排斥某人）

起源：源于英国的议会制度。英国议会分上下两院，上院（the Upper House）地位高却没有实权，下院(the Lower House）地位低却实权在握。与权贵意见相左的下院议员，往往会被“晋升”到上院，其实就是被“踢上楼”了。

例句：They kicked John upstairs to an assistant manager position so he would stop griping about his pay.

他们把约翰提升到助理经理的职位，这样他就不会再抱怨工资了。

The board of trustees decided to kick the president of the company upstairs.

理事会决定将该公司的总经理明升暗降。

They decided to kick him upstairs and appoint a younger man to take his place.

他们决定对他明升暗降，让一位比他年轻的人来接替他目前的职位。

To weaken his hold on the government, the President kicked the Secretary of State upstairs by making him Vice President.

为了消弱国务卿对政府的影响力，总统对他明升暗降，委任他为副总统。