# kick upstairs

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/kick-upstairs
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To promote (an employee considered troublesome) to a position of lesser influence, but of apparently higher status.

## Examples

- The company decided to kick him upstairs to a quiet office.
- Management wanted to remove the difficult manager from daily operations, so they kicked him upstairs to a ceremonial role.
- Rather than dismissing the incompetent executive, the board chose to kick him upstairs, effectively neutralizing his influence while maintaining the appearance of a promotion.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.