Thanks for your reply, Marylin. I understand the meaning of the expression, but I was wondering why use the term "kick" (out of context it sounds like you do something not exactly for fun, but to be looking for the receiving end of someone else's kicking).

Metaphorically speaking:

a) it means that one considers casually kicking around insignificant objects on his path as a fun activity (some kids in school find that amusing when bored, and when it specifically doesn't involve anger release)?

b) or instead, one's mischevious acts (the thing one does to some other "just for kicks") can be retaliated by the other (kicking one's arse back)?

The question I meant to ask then is in what sort of way "kick" means something different than just thrusting something with your foot. I heard before somebody saying "I get a kick out of that" meaning that he was amused.

Sorry for the digression... just want to use the idiom properly next time...