But first, the New Orleans rapper Juvenile has sold millions of records with hits like Back That Ass Up.

NPR: Rapper Juvenile Returns to New Orleans

But that was worse: up to your ass all day in sticky juice, with acid eating into the cuts on your hands.

CNN: Excerpt: 'Joe DiMaggio: The Hero's Life'

After this initial foray into the mainstream, Heacock observes that usage of "kick ass", "kicking ass" and "kick-ass" picked up even more frequently from roughly the year 1990 onwards.

BBC: Kentucky 'kicks ass': Taking pride in plain speaking

The problem is, I'm still in love with Mr. Writer, a man who is more likely to show up in a "Falls on Ass" video than an "Everlasting Love" commercial.

NPR: Kristin Chenoweth Is 'A Little Bit Wicked'

People were showing up at early screenings in Kick-Ass T-shirts dressed as the various adolescent faux superheroes.

FORBES: Why 'Kick-Ass' Didn't

"Writing and travel broaden your ass if not your mind and I like to write standing up, " wrote Hemingway in a letter in 1950.

BBC: Stand up at office to lose weight, says exercise scientist

They have access to the codes, they can clean it up, add to it, and distribute it worldwide to kick some conficker ass.

FORBES: Russia's Bear in the Woods Has Arrived

Based on a 2008 comic book, Kick-Ass tells the story of a group of high school vigilantes who dress up as superheroes.

FORBES

Did Steve Jobs, after he rejoined Apple in 1997 when Apple was on its ass and weeks away from bankruptcy, spend his days in front of the whiteboard writing up unrealistic plans?

FORBES: Steve Jobs Showed It's Not Indulgent to Follow Your Bliss, It's Required