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Region: General | Usage example: The council keeps kicking the can down the street on zoning.

Kick the can down the street

Meaning

Postpone dealing with a problem.

Usage

Applied to politics, planning, or budgeting delays.

Origin & History

Origins and dates here are approximate summaries. Many idioms have disputed or unknown origins, and not every date has been checked against a historical dictionary, so treat specific dates and stories as a starting point rather than a citation.

Children’s game metaphor for delaying action.

Used in political cartoons since the late 1800s.

Related Idioms

Kick the can down the road

Postpone a difficult decision or problem.

Kick the can

Postpone addressing a problem.

Down to the wire

Until the very last moment.

More Idioms

Break the ice

To do or say something to relieve tension or get conversation going in a social situation.

Cut to the chase

Skip ahead to the most important or exciting part of something.

The ball is in your court

It is now your turn to take action or make a decision.

Throw in the towel

To concede defeat or admit a struggle isn't worth continuing.