Sidekick
nounA close companion or junior partner who assists and accompanies someone, especially a more prominent figure.
How to spell sidekick
8 letters · 2 syllables
How to pronounce sidekick
Say the part in capitals loudest.
What does sidekick mean?
- nounA close companion or junior partner who assists and accompanies someone, especially a more prominent figure.
Sidekick in a sentence
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The detective relied on his loyal sidekick to gather the small details.
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Every adventure story seems to need a brave hero and a faithful sidekick.
Where does sidekick come from?
Language of origin: Other
Sidekick is an American coinage from the early 1900s, and its history runs straight through the slang of pickpockets. In that underworld jargon a 'side-kick' or 'side-kicker' was the front side pocket of a pair of trousers, considered the hardest pocket for a thief to pick because it sat against the leg. From that protected, always-at-your-side position the term shifted to mean a close and trusted companion who stays right beside you. The form was clipped from the earlier 'side-kicker' to the snappier 'sidekick' that we use today. The spelling is mercifully transparent, being just the everyday words 'side' and 'kick' joined together, which is why the word reads exactly as it sounds.
How the word is built
- side (flank, beside)
- kick (from kicker, companion)
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