Phrase guide

kick the can down the road

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To avoid or postpone a decision or action; to procrastinate.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, informal

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: adjourn, avert, defer, delay, dilly-dally, draw out, extend, forslow, forestall, forestay, kick into the long grass, kick the can down the road, postpone, procrastinate, prolong, prorogue, prorogate, protract, put off, put on hold, put on ice, retard, roll back, stay, suspend, tarry

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Attested as an activity of idle urban youths since the late 19th century. The modern sense of procrastinate dates from the 1980s.

Across languages

Translations

8 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Danish: udsætte problemet — Translations
  • Finnish: vitkastella — Translations
  • French: pelleter par en avant — Translations
  • Norwegian Bokmål: utsette problemet — Translations
  • Polish: odkładać — Translations
  • Polish: odłożyć — Translations
  • Portuguese: enrolar — Translations
  • Spanish: huir hacia delante — Translations