Region: General | Usage example: Rather than fix the root cause, they keep kicking the can down the road.

Kick the can down the road

Meaning

Postpone a difficult decision or problem.

Used when someone delays dealing with issues.

Origin notes can vary by region and source; this page gives the commonly reported explanation and usage context.

Children's game imagery of kicking a can away to avoid it.

Used especially in policy discussions since the late 20th century.