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kick tires
To examine or inspect a second-hand car or cars for possible purchase; to shop for used cars in general. I always loved going to used car lots with my dad while he went around kicking tires. Our old van finally broke down, so I'm heading out this weekend to kick some tires.
kick the tires
To inspect or test something or someone to ensure that he, she, or it meets the required or expected standard of quality. Primarily heard in US, Canada. You should always kick the tires of anything you plan to buy from someone online, or else you might end up buying a piece of junk! The boss always assigns difficult projects as a way of kicking the tires of new employees. We should hire a few interns to kick the tires on this app before we release it to the public.
tire kicker
1. One who examines or inspects a second-hand car or cars, often without really intending to buy anything. Primarily heard in Australia. This guy isn't a serious buyer, he's just a tire kicker.
2. One who wastes another's time. We need serious candidates for this position, so make sure to eliminate any tire kickers.
spare tire
1. a thickness in the waist; a roll of fat around one's waist. I've got to get rid of this spare tire. The spare tire started when I was twenty-six.
2. an unneeded person; an unproductive person. Gary is a spare tire. Send him home. You spare tires over there! Get to work.
tire of someone or something
to grow weary of someone or something. She tired of him and left him. I am beginning to tire of the furniture in the living room.
tire out
to become exhausted. I tire out easily. When I had the flu, I found that I tired out easily.
tire someone out
to exhaust someone. The extra work tired him out a lot. Too much work will tire out the horses.
tire of somebody/something
(slightly formal) to become bored or upset with someone or something I am so tired of him that one day I shall simply ignore him. She was tired of people telling her what to do.
tire you out
to feel that you do not have any energy Painting the living room in one day really tired Dad out.
spare tire
Fat around one's middle, as in He's determined to lose ten pounds and that spare tire he's acquired. This expression transfers the term for an extra tire carried in cars in case of a flat tire to excess fat around the waist. [Colloquial; mid-1900s]
tire of
v. To have one's interest or patience exhausted by something or someone: Soon after the semester started, I tired of the boring morning lectures. My parents never tired of giving me unwanted advice.
tire out
v. To deplete the strength or energy of someone or something; fatigue someone or something: Traveling always tires me out. The long ride tired out the horses.
spare tire
1. n. a thickness in the waist; a roll of fat around one’s waist. The spare tire started when I was twenty-six.
2. n. an unneeded person; an unproductive person. Gary is a spare tire. Send him home.