Kick the can down the road

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Meaning

To delay dealing with a problem, pushing it off for later.

Origin

From 20th-century America, tied to kids kicking cans; a Depression-era pastime; slang by the 1980s for stalling. A 1985 'Washington Post' piece uses it for budget delays. It echoes older 'pass the buck,' but cans added a gritty street twist, growing into a sharp idiom of avoidance in a deadline age.

Variants

  • Can down the road
  • Kick the can

Usage Examples

  • They kicked the can down the road on fixing the leak.
  • He's kicking the can down the road-won't face her yet.
  • Congress keeps kicking the can down the road on that law.

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