Is this phrase polite?

[eghbali2266]

Hi.
When we say oh, that's a kick ass. It means wow, that's cool. Is this phrase polite or not though?
Thanks in advance

[Tdol]

I wouldn't use a kick ass, though other speakers may. I would use it as a verb and say that something kicks ass. It's slang, so it's not polite, but it's not particularly rude.

[emsr2d2]

In your sentence, you've used it as noun. Like Tdol, I don't think that works. I have heard it used as an adjective though - "That's a kick-ass car!"; "I went out for dinner last night and we had kick-ass Afghani food!"

I don't use it myself - I associate it more with American English (partly because of the use of the word "ass").

[GoesStation]

Hi.
When we say oh, that's a kick ass. It means wow, that's cool. Is this phrase polite or not though?
Thanks in advance

Leave out the article and it's OK: Oh, that's kick-ass. It means "that's great." It's only polite in a context that allows casual, mildly vulgar language.

[Tdol]

That works in BrE too.

[TheParser]

NOT A TEACHER

Hello, Eghbali:

I feel that "kick-ass" is neither polite nor rude when it means "cool."

In my opinion, I think that it is just the kind of "tough" talk that many males like (and probably some females, too).

I think that it's fine if you want to tell your family or friends: "I'm taking a really kick-ass grammar class. There are only 50 seats, but dozens of students were standing in the aisles today as Professor Smith explained the position of adverbs. Man! He is a kick-ass dude!"

I would, however, suggest that you NOT use it when it means to "punish":


Raul: Do it now!

Joe: No!

Raul: You (had) better do it now, or I'll kick your -ss!

Joe: You and who else? ( = You are not big enough to kick my -ss!. You will need at least one other person to help you.)

As you can see, Raul has placed himself in a very embarrassing position.

[Tdol]

In your sentence, you've used it as noun.

Kick is a verb there.

[emsr2d2]

I was referring to "That's a kick ass" (post #1). Given that I'd never heard the term used that way before, and the positioning of the indefinite article, I took "kick ass" to be a two-word noun.

[Piscean]

That's the way I took it.

[GoesStation]

I'm not aware of kick-ass existing as a noun. As far as I know, it can only be an adjective.