kick the can down the road
To avoid or postpone a decision or action; to procrastinate.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“They always kick the can down the road instead of fixing the problem.”
“He kicks the can down the road by ignoring his mounting credit card debt.”
“The committee decided to kick the can down the road by delaying the vote until next month.”
“If we don't choose a new office location today, we are just kicking the can down the road while our current lease expires.”
“The manager keeps kicking the can down the road regarding my promotion request, so I might start looking for a new job.”
“Rather than addressing the structural deficit immediately, the government chose to kick the can down the road, leaving the difficult choices for the next administration.”
First attested in the late 19th century, the phrase originally described a physical activity pursued by idle urban youths. The transition to the modern sense of procrastination occurred in the 1980s, when the image of a child aimlessly propelling a piece of rubbish ahead of them became a metaphor for deferring a decision to a later date.
- 01
all roads lead to Rome
Different paths can take one to the same goal.
- 02
bump in the road
A setback or obstacle, especially one which is relatively minor.
- 03
down the road, not across the street
Of the technique for committing suicide, along the radial artery rather than across the wrist from side to side.
- 04
frog
[Cockney slang]road
- 05
get a kick out of
To be delighted by; to be amused by.
- 06
get one's kicks
To enjoy oneself, to have a good time.
- 07
get the show on the road
To begin or launch; to get going.
- 08
go down that road
To settle a way of doing something; do decide to do something in a particular way.
Last updated August 10, 2026