In American football, the player who kicks field goals, extra points, and kickoffs. Generally, something that provides an additional boost, surprise element, or unexpected twist.
From the verb 'kick' plus the agentive suffix '-er,' literally meaning 'one who kicks.' The figurative sense of 'surprising element' developed from the idea of something that 'kicks' or jolts the recipient.
The football kicker is often the most specialized and pressure-filled position, as games frequently hinge on successful field goals in crucial moments. The term 'kicker' has expanded beyond sports to describe any surprising additional element, as in 'the kicker is...' when revealing unexpected information.
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