- Meaning
- This idiom describes delaying a difficult decision, problem, or responsibility to a later time, often to avoid immediate consequences or effort, as if kicking a can further down a path rather than dealing with it now. It conveys procrastination or avoidance, used in political, professional, or personal contexts to critique or describe postponing action. The phrase carries a tone of frustration, pragmatism, or mild disapproval, reflecting cultural critiques of short-term thinking and the human tendency to defer tough choices. It resonates in societies grappling with complex issues, highlighting the tension between immediate action and long-term consequences, and often implies that the delay may worsen the problem, creating a cycle of avoidance.
- Origin
- The phrase originated in mid-20th-century America, likely tied to the children’s game ‘kick the can,’ where players delay capture by kicking a can, extending the game. Its metaphorical use emerged in the 1980s, reflecting political and economic debates over deferred policies, with an early use in a 1982 *Washington Post* article about Congress ‘kicking the can down the road’ on budget deficits. The idiom gained traction during the Reagan era, amplified by media coverage of fiscal avoidance, and was popularized in the 1990s through political journalism, notably in *The New York Times*. Its roots in a tangible, playful game gave it relatable imagery, while its relevance to modern governance, from tax reforms to climate policies, ensured its spread. The phrase’s adoption in British and global English came through American political discourse, and its vivid imagery, evoking a casual yet consequential act, and its applicability to procrastination guaranteed its widespread use across English-speaking cultures, from policy debates to personal dilemmas.
- Variants
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- Kick the can down the road
- Kicking the can down the road
- Kick the can further down the road
- Push the can down the road
- Examples
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- They kicked the can down the road, delaying the budget cuts until next year.
- Kicking the can down the road won’t solve the company’s financial problems.
- Kick the can further down the road, but the debt will still need addressing.
- Push the can down the road if you must, but the project deadline looms.
- She kicked the can down the road, avoiding the tough conversation with her boss.
- Kicking the can down the road, they postponed the environmental regulations again.
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