Kick the can down the road

Meaning

"Kick the can down the road" is an idiom that means to delay or postpone making a difficult decision or addressing a problem, often by shifting responsibility or blame onto someone else. The phrase originated from a 19th-century American folk song called "The Ballad of Kitty in the Front Parlor," which tells the story of a girl who is planning to run away with her lover but decides to put off making the decision until after her parents have died.

Usage

• I don't want to kick the can down the road any longer and make this decision already.
• The company has been kicking the can down the road by not investing in new technology for years now.
• The government is kicking the can down the road by passing a bill that only addresses the symptoms of the problem, not its root cause.
• My parents have been kicking the can down the road by not addressing their financial issues, and now we're all facing the consequences.
• I don't want to kick the can down the road any longer and face my fears head-on. The usage of this idiom can vary depending on the context, but it usually implies that someone is delaying or avoiding making a difficult decision or addressing a problem. It can also suggest that the person is shifting responsibility or blame onto someone else.

Roots and History

The origin of the phrase "kick the can down the road" is uncertain, but one popular theory is that it comes from the 19th-century American folk song "The Ballad of Kitty in the Front Parlor." In this song, Kitty is planning to run away with her lover but decides to put off making the decision until after her parents have died. The phrase "kick the can down the road" is used to describe how Kitty delays making her choice by "kicking" a can of beans (a common household item in American culture) down the road. Over time, the meaning and usage of this idiom have evolved to encompass a wider range of situations beyond just running away from home. Today, it is commonly used to describe any situation where someone is delaying or avoiding making a difficult decision or addressing a problem.

Synonyms in English

• Put off
• Procrastinate
• Delay
• Defer
• Avoid

Synonyms in other languages

• French: "L'éviter" (to avoid)
• Spanish: "Aplastar" (to crush)
• German: "Schlagen auf die Finger" (to hit on the fingers)
• Italian: "Dimenticare" (to forget)
• Portuguese: "Esquecer" (to forget)

Similar Idioms

• in short order

• cross the bridge

• banker’s hours