/ “Kick the can down the road” 🚧
Meaning: A phrase used to describe avoiding a problem or decision by temporarily delaying it, often with the intention of addressing it later.
Origin
The phrase originated in the United States in the early 20th century, where children would kick a can down the street to delay taking responsibility for cleaning up. The practice was seen as a way to avoid doing chores. Over time, the phrase evolved to be used in more serious contexts to describe avoiding difficult decisions or problems.
Real-Time Example
Imagine you’re running a small business and are struggling to meet your quarterly sales targets. Instead of confronting the issue head-on, your manager suggests that you focus on expanding your marketing efforts for the next quarter, hoping that it will boost sales by then. They say, “Let’s just kick this problem down the road for now, we’ll address it in a few months.”
Other Everyday Contexts
| Situation | Usage |
|---|---|
| Failing to pay bills on time | “I’m not falling behind on my payments, I’m just kicking them down the road.” |
| Putting off a difficult conversation with a colleague | “I need some more time to think about this, let’s kick it down the road for now.” |
| Delaying a necessary home repair until the last minute | “We’ll deal with that later, we’re not going to worry about it right now, let’s just kick it down the road.” |
In short: Avoiding problems or decisions by temporarily delaying them.